When roof tiles are involved in a home inspection, there are tradeoffs and challenges to take into consideration. The tradeoffs roof tiles impose are between doing a careful and standards-based inspection and damaging the material. The challenge is to stay safe and yet still get the job done.

Roof tiles are constructed out of clay or concrete, though sometimes slate is grouped in the tile category. The demands for installing them are more stringent than those for installing roof shingles. The weight per square is so much higher that foundation and structure must be strong enough to support them. They use special fasteners and metal flashings. Manufacturers recommend not walking on them because it is difficult to know where to step and consequently the tiles are more susceptible to breakage.

Mold symptoms are rather prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, there being long stretches of rain or air high in relative humidity without much sun to dry things out. I see symptoms of mold all the time in my home inspections and customers sometimes shrug it off as if mold is a necessary evil in our neck of the woods. However, for clients who have respiratory problems, the presence of mold is a serious concern and even a deal breaker.

How do we deal with mold symptoms? Are they indeed a way of life for us Washingtonians, or can they actually be prevented from developing? More importantly, once mold growth becomes apparent, either from neglect or failing prophylactic techniques, can we expect to have any success in eliminating it through therapeutic approaches? Trying to answer these questions is the subject of this blog.