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Blog, Purchasing a House

Roof Pitch Issues When Buying a Home with an Enclosed Verandah

What to Look For When Buying a Home with an Enclosed Verandah

Are you looking to buy a home with an enclosed verandah, but are experiencing issues with the roof pitch? This is a common concern amongst home buyers, but being well informed is the best way to protect against future problems.

Everyone knows just how important it is to have a roof over our heads – proper shelter is a basic human right. It is especially important when searching for a new home that you take note of the health of the roof on each house you’re inspecting. In the case of pitched roofs on homes with enclosed verandahs, there are a number of issues that can arise that can be both frustrating and expensive. Read on to find out what you should look for to ensure the roof of the house you choose will keep you and your family safe for years to come!

What is a pitched roof?

In building construction, roof pitch is the numerical measure for the steepness of a roof. Roofs can be flat or varying degrees of steep. The pitch determines which material can and cannot be used for sheeting, with corrugated iron having a minimum pitch of 5 degrees specified by the manufacturer. Tiles have a minimum pitch of 15 degrees. A 45 degree pitch is actually considered very steep.

What are the benefits of a pitched roof on a verandah?

A gable or hipped pitched roof may be perfect for your house as they easily shed water and allow for more ventilation. Helping the area to feel cooler is definitely a selling point in Queensland. Their simple design makes them quite easy to build and much cheaper than other complex designs.

In our humid Queensland climate, quickly disposing of water and providing shade is an absolute necessity. You wouldn’t want to live in a house that enabled rain water to collect on the roof during the summer months – you’d quickly find yourself with a sagging roof and possibly even water damage. The most common materials used in Queensland for pitched roofs are corrugated iron or Colourbond, which are comparatively light when compared with tiles and easy to transport.

What are the common pitched roof issues?

Obvious or unseen problems with the roof of the home can become a hugely significant expense. You definitely need to check out the roof of the place you’re thinking about buying carefully to save yourself that heartache in the future.

Roof problems can be worse in cyclone-prone areas. If the frames don’t have adequate bracing and support and aren’t properly secured, they can collapse or even peel away in the wind. Check to see if there is much of an overhang, as the wind can create an uplift underneath and cause the roof to detach from the walls.

We’ve got a few other notable issues here that often arise with roofs. Check them out and take note – your Action Property Inspections expert can help you decide upon the property that’s right for you!

Roof leaks

Roof leaks can occur for a multitude of reasons. Leaking roofs are major sources of building damage so it’s an absolute must to ensure your roof is watertight. Blocked gutters or downpipes or even rusted roof sheets can all cause leaks, which can lead to sagging or warped roofs, decay damage, mould growth and major damage to the house itself. Broken roof tiles or dislodging tiles will also cause leaks.

The roof needs to be kept free of debris, with the amount of cleaning depending on the pitch of the roof and the number of trees around the house. Check to ensure the roof sheeting is properly nailed down and that any skylights or vents are properly sealed. Check for damaged roof pointing or cracked roof tiles.

Guttering and downpipes

The most common problems with guttering are poor drainage systems and leaf build up. These cause water to build up in the gutter, leading to corrosion well before the gutter should be prone to it.

Gutters collect and divert rainwater to protect the house and its foundation. This should also reduce erosion, prevent leaks in low lying spaces and protect painted surfaces by reducing their exposure to water. If you see any water damage in these areas, the gutters aren’t functioning properly. Gutters need to be installed with a fall so that the water runs through to the downpipe and drain. If this isn’t adequate, the water collects and corrodes the gutter, which leads to a host of annoying and expensive problems. You should ask your Action Property Inspections inspector to check the angle of the pitched roof and ensure that the current downpipes and gutters are correctly installed.

Solar panels

Solar panels are a brilliant way to lessen your power bills and increase you energy efficiency. If you are planning on installing solar panels, you need to consider whether or not the roof on the home you’re inspecting will accommodate the panels you need.

The angle that your solar panels are mounted on will affect the amount of power they provide. Standard roof pitches in Australia are usually either 15 degrees or 22.5 degrees, depending on the materials used in the roof. The incorrect roof pitch and panel angle will mean that the panels won’t be able to self-clean in the rain, meaning that you’ll have to manually clean them more often and the panels may not be effective if incorrectly installed.

Calculating the best tilt for the panels you need on your roof is pretty simple – you just need to know the latitude where you live. Here’s a handy table to show you the different optimum tilts for every major Australian city.

City              Latitude/Degree
Darwin                               12
Brisbane                            27
Perth                                   31
Sydney                                34
Canberra                           35
Adelaide                             35
Melbourne                        37
Hobart                                42

If you need advice about roof pitch or gable roof problems in your home or potential investment, an expert building inspection is the only way to get complete piece of mind.

Call an Action Property Inspections expert today to discuss all your roof pitch queries.

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About Andrew Mackintosh

Andrew Mackintosh has been answering home inspection questions in the greater Brisbane area since 1995. He has personally carried out over 20,000 building inspections and is a licensed builder and licensed building inspector, Member of Queensland Master Builders Association & Institute of Building Consultants. Being the business owner and the inspector, Andrew is passionate about providing clients with excellent customer service, value for money, honest, unbiased, thorough inspection and reporting in a professional and timely manner to allow clients to make informed decisions when purchasing property.