What do you mean I have ALLIGATORS on my roof?

alligator

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    I am sure most of you have heard of the term "Alligatoring"  as applied to roofing----particularly related to flat roofs.  This is a condition of the roof that indicates that the roof is near the end of its life (maybe way past it), and gets its name from the way an alligator's back looks (if you use your imagination).  As the roof expands and contracts over time, and as the volatiles of the tar boil off in the heat from the sun, cracks start to develop in the surface.  This condition is due to the lack of UV protection, and is why roofs of this type should be covered with aggregate or reflective coatings.  Some of the paint-on reflective type coatings, if routinely maintained, can double the life of a roof of this type.  Obviously if these cracks get big enough leaks will develop.  While minor Alligatoring may be able to be successfully coated-over, a roof as bad as this next picture would likely require replacement.bad roof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Buell

www.buellinspections.com

 
Post is included in group: Property Inspection Discussion

7 Comments on What do you mean I have ALLIGATORS on my roof?

Alligator roofs are in next year it will be ostrich skin.

Take care!

RJH

01/30/2008 10:15 PM by Empire Realty

Good example picture of this type of defect. Thanks for the information!

01/30/2008 10:20 PM by Jim Albano (Prudential Damiano Realty)

Cute post. It is good information and I hope many more such posts follow, daily and weekly for a very long time. We all benefit from these, some of us more than others.

01/30/2008 10:21 PM by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection)

You found some great pictures to go along with this post.  Thanks for sharing the information.

01/30/2008 10:26 PM by Ryan Hukill - Edmond Realtor® (Hukill Group - Paradigm Realty)

That's cute, Charles. Being in Florida, I think live alligators when they're mentioned. I'm not interested in living on a fresh water pond, give me good old salt water anyday.

01/31/2008 11:27 PM by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

Sharon, hopefully you don't find alligators on your roof too often:) I hear they are pretty fast, but haven't figured out flying yet:)

 

01/31/2008 11:38 PM by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com)

hhhmmm, Interesting observation. I knew you didn't mean a "real" alligator being as there are none in your neck of the woods, but still a good read.

Sean Allen

02/29/2008 04:15 PM by International Financing Solutions

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Inspector: Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com)
Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector
Seattle, WA
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