Notes from the Field:

Reindeer on the Roof

Christmas is past, but the long cold winter still lies before us. If you have children at home there is a good chance that there were the prancing and pawing of Reindeer hooves on your roof recently. Gee, I know they are magical and all, but I hope they did not do any damage while they were there. As a home inspector I can tell you that the roof may be the single greatest concern that my clients have.

Having a roof over our head is something that we say that conveys security and comfort, so it would not hurt to know a little something about it. There are many different types of roof configurations, and an almost limitless list of the things that we use to cover that roof. Your roof can have slope, or it can be flat, but whatever it looks like and whatever it is made of, its job is to keep you dry and protected from the elements.

I am not going to try to talk about all of the different types of roofs in this article, so let us just concentrate on the most common type found here in the Shenandoah Valley. By design it is called a sloped roof. Think of it as an umbrella over your house. Like that umbrella, the sides are angled away so it can shed water. And, it is most often covered with shingles. Yes, there are lots of other coverings commonly found here in The Valley; slate, wood shakes, and metal among them. But let us concentrate on what I believe to be the most common, asphalt shingles and composition shingles.

We have to be careful not to get bogged down with the names of things. There are lots of different descriptions for shingles, but let us identify two basic types. One I will call the asphalt shingle, the other the composition shingle. If you know what to look for, it is pretty easy to tell the two apart. The asphalt shingle lies flatter on the roof having more of a two dimensional appearance. It is made from a heavy building paper that has been soaked in asphalt and then covered with a granular mineral for protection and durability. (For you roofing experts, yes it is a bit more complex, but we are keeping it simple here). This type of shingle has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years (longer in colder climates and shorter in warmer climates). That should give us a hint that excess heat is its enemy. Like the asphalt in a street that dries and cracks over time, so does the shingle. Signs of wear are cupping, curling, loss of the granular surface, cracking, and breaking. Look for these signs on your roof and know that when you see them it may be time to call a roofer. If the shingles have gotten brittle then those hooves may have cracked a few on landing. Best to check it out.

I cautioned about getting bogged down with names. Obviously the asphalt shingle is a composite material. However, what we will call a composition shingle is really a step up from the asphalt type in that it has some added ingredients. It too is pretty easy to identify in that it has depth, more of a three dimensional appearance. Probably the major difference is that it has a fiberglass/asphalt construction. These shingles can be designed to resist mold and mildew, have greater impact resistance (think of the reindeer), and can be fire retardant. These roofs can have a life span of 30 to 50 years and some manufacturers offer a lifetime warrantee.

If you have one of these shingle roof systems I hope that this has helped you understand what effect those reindeer had. If you have any other questions about other roof types or problems you may be encountering, do not hesitate to call your professional roofer, or send a note to me at dwingenbach.hisllc@gmail.com.

Enjoy the winter!

Recently, I inspected a very attractive 30+ year-old ranch style home in Frederick County. It was a large, brick home that the previous owner had obviously cared for and maintained well over the years. A lovely sunroom had been added to the original house with an adjacent patio enclosed by a privacy hedge. An attached two-car garage had also been added so that the front of the house presently forms an L shape. During the course of inspecting the crawlspace under the house, I spotted a small snake skin. At that moment, I was not overly surprised. It had probably come from a black snake which are common in this area and are known to find their way into crawlspaces which are open to the outside. The real surprise, however, came when I inspected the attic. There must have been eight or nine snake skins measuring 6� or better. I brought one of the skins down to my client. After he stopped shuddering he said, �I love the house, but I really don�t like that the attic is infested with snakes, what can I do about that?�

To begin, it is important to understand that I�m a Home Inspector, not a Pest Control Expert. However, it�s not unusual to find critters in the attics and crawlspaces of older homes where there are gaps or openings that allow them entry. They make their way in because they are looking for food and/or shelter. In the case of snakes in the attic, they were looking for food. Along with the snake skins, there were significant amounts of rodent droppings, or what my mother-in-law used to call �mouse tickets�. Where there are mice or rats, there will also be snakes.

The solution? In this case, the equation was simple. Get rid of the rodents and the snakes will go looking elsewhere for their dinner. As it pertains to pests and the food chains they are part of, think about access and food. Remove those two elements and you will go a long way to deter or remove the unwanted intrusions. An incident at my own home illustrates this well. I live in an old stone house that is relatively easy for rodents to access. A few years ago my wife bought some Indian corn for a seasonal display on the front door. When she took the decoration down it was no worse for wear, so she decided to keep it with the rest of the seasonal decor in the attic for the following year. In no time at all, our cats were earning their keep. My wife and I couldn�t understand why all of a sudden we had a mouse problem until I went to the attic and discovered that they had discovered the corn! I cleaned up the corn, and away went the mice.

Homeowners and homebuyers alike need to be mindful of the access to food and shelter they might be offering potential pests. Are there gaps or openings into your crawlspace or basement? Is there a tree touching your roof (snakes are great tree climbers), or open vent work? Outside of the kitchen, have you stored anything that a critter might find appetizing like bulk food that doesn�t stay in the kitchen, grass seed, or Indian corn? Are you storing soft materials in which critters could nest? Block the entrances and remove the food sources; you and your Home Inspector will appreciate it! Here is a short, concise list I found with tips on how to prevent rodent intrusion.