Originally Posted by
M Kelekci
Bitumen roof got standing water on it. So it is almost flat.
Ponding water is not allowed, and, the minimum slope required is 1/4" per foot, with some roof coverings requiring a greater slope (such as 1/2" per foot or more).
Jim Hime said "A braver person would hit it with a water hose to see if it leaked or you could call it out for water testing."
Are we suppossed to do that as home inspectors? What if it causes a water penetration damage? If it does, yes I will have proved that the roof is not properly sealed, but won't the owner say "It never leaked before". I don't know about others but I feel like I am not "brave" enough.
I would not use the word "brave", I would use the word "stupid".
A STUPID home inspector would have used a water hose. When a home inspector is there inspecting for a buyer, you don't do "stupid" things like that.
HOWEVER, if you are there for the owner, trying to determine what is leaking where, sure, go ahead and do that.
Just remember, though, that if you spray the roof with a garden hose and come down and say 'Nope, didn't see any leaks.', you have just pronounced the roof "leak free", not taking into consideration that with wind driven rain there are positive and negative pressures going on which will drive/suck water in through places you would never be able to spray water with a garden hose.
Any home inspector who grabs a garden hose to test window, doors, roofs, etc., ... they deserve to be sued ... just like they probably will be.
If you are going to test something, you need to test it the proper and approved way, otherwise, you are *just looking foolish* standing there with a water hose thinking you are actually "testing" something for leaks.
