Brownstone Home Inspection LLC
Flat and Low Rise Roof Inspections
The low-rise roofs found on many New York City row houses can last for decades. But to do so, they require regular inspection and maintenance to catch issues before they become problems. A thorough, independent roof inspection by someone who represents you and not another entity can provide you with an unbiased report on the condition of your roof and can serve as a guide as you move forward with maintenance, repairs, or replacement. Roof inspections conducted by Brownstone Home Inspection LLC encompass not only the roofing membrane but the surrounding parapet walls, chimneys rising above the roof line, and all penetrations including skylights and vents.
For an additional fee, Brownstone Home Inspection can inspect other areas such as the building façade and other systems including traditional stucco and Exterior Insulated Finishing Systems (EIFS).
All Roof Inspections include some level of thermal imaging to try to detect moisture between the ceiling and the roof deck. Additional leak investigation services are available. Leak investigation services extend beyond the roof, to the walls and windows of buildings.
Steve Cymbalsky is a Haag Certified Commercial (low slope) Roof Inspector. Haag Engineering developed its certification programs after decades of providing forensic analyses to building owners and insurance companies. Haag Certification means an inspector has verifiable experience, has participated in training conducted by Haag's engineers, and has been tested to meet standards Haag has spent decades developing. In addition to the Haag Certification, Steve is also a certified CertainTeed Master Commercial (low slope) Roof Installer and an Internachi Certified Chimney & Fireplace Inspector.
The owner of Brownstone Home Inspection has worked in the construction and building maintenance industries since 1980. He sold his first roofing job in 1981 and performed his first reroofing while working for a home improvement contractor in 1982. In the ensuing years, he has overseen the reroofing of four huge buildings and performed over a hundred monthly inspections of flat roof systems on commercial buildings in New York City. He is the only person to have walked on and maintained his own roof in the 17 years he has owned his home. Since forming Brownstone Home Inspection LLC, he has been inspecting several residential roofs a month and has been uncovering issues missed by the "experts" who have worked on some of these roofs. If you walk your roof with Steve as he inspects it, he will teach you how to inspect your own roof and let you know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.
Inquire about our package deal for a combined Roof, Chimney, & Fireplace Inspection.
THESE ARE PHOTOS FROM ACTUAL ROOF INSPECTIONS PERFORMED BY STEVE
The roofing membrane has detached from the parapet wall. This will have to be dealt with right away as water can pass between the roof and membrane and their is light staining on the ceiling in the apt below.
The real estate agent told us the roof on this house had been "done" in 2018. I told the buyer "the roof might have been painted in 2018 but the open seams and blisters suggest the roof is older than five years".
This misinformation is the fault of both the real estate agent and the seller. What happens is, the agent asks the seller "when was the roof done?" They do not ask "when was a new me
Open seam on a roof. In this case, i believe the plywood decking is delaminating. This will have to corrected soon and the roof will have to be cut back and lifted to replace the deck. the entire roof does not have to be changed.
The mortar cap on the chimney is separating from the top of the chimney. This can allow water to seep into the mortar and once inside, it can freeze and expand and dislodge bricks.
One of my favorites. This photo is looking down the flue of the chimney to a neighbor's house. When Steve performs roof inspections, he looks at the parapet walls and chimneys for the neighboring houses. This is because, what ever is along a party wall will become your problem if is is not addressed. In this case, the terra cotta flue in the chimney is missing and the bricks have become di
Capstone with cracks in it. It is important to maintain the joints in the capstones to protect the party walls. In this case, the capstone is cracked. It appears that at least one of these cracks goes right through to the bricks underneath. If this is not maintained with flashing cement, water can enter and freeze and dislodge bricks.
This open seem was found on an "owner's" post purchase inspection. The seam had in fact been missed by the "buyer's" inspection done about four months previous by one of the biggest and most well known inspection companies serving New York City.
Leaves in the gutter on an end of winter owner's inspection. This mess had been there so long that some of it had fully decayed. This mess was not noted on the pre-sale buyers inspection done mid winter by a large home inspection company. Steve got down on his hands and knees and cleaned this out for the homeowner.
Capstone with cracks in it. It is important to maintain the joints in the capstones to protect the party walls. In this case, the capstone is cracked. It appears that at least one of these cracks goes right through to the bricks underneath. If this is not maintained with flashing cement, water can enter and freeze and dislodge bricks.