When to get your roof inspected
Most people call us for one of a handful of reasons, and each one wants a slightly different emphasis:
- Buying a home. A general home inspection covers the roof briefly. If the roof is the item you're worried about — or the one that could cost you the most after closing — a roofer's look at it is a different level of detail.
- Selling. Knowing the condition before a buyer's inspector raises it puts you in a much better negotiating position than being surprised by it.
- After a hail or wind storm. Hail damage in particular is often not visible from the ground, and there are deadlines on claims. See storm and hail damage.
- Seasonally. Autumn, before snow, is the sensible time in this valley. Small flashing and edge problems become winter leaks.
- Planning ahead. If you're trying to work out whether a roof has three more years in it or ten, an inspection turns guesswork into a budget.
What we look at
An inspection is a condition assessment, not a glance at the shingles. On a typical residential roof we're looking at:
- The roof covering: shingle or panel condition, granule loss, cracking, curling, brittleness, missing or lifted material, and hail bruising
- Flashing and penetrations: walls, chimneys, valleys, skylights, pipe boots, vents — where most leaks actually start
- Edges and drainage: drip edge, eaves, gutter condition, and evidence of past ice damming
- Ventilation: whether intake and exhaust are adequate and unblocked, since poor ventilation shortens the life of a roof from underneath
- Decking and structure: soft spots, sagging planes, and where accessible, the attic side for staining, damp insulation or daylight
- Previous work: earlier repairs, patches and anything installed in a way that's likely to cause a problem
What you get afterwards
You get a clear account of what we found and what it means: what's in good order, what needs attention now, what to keep an eye on, and roughly where the roof is in its service life. Where work is needed, that comes as a written, itemised estimate you can compare against anyone else's.
What you won't get is a sales pitch attached to it. If the roof is fine, we'll say the roof is fine.
Booking an inspection
Get in touch and tell us the property address, why you want it looked at, and any deadline you're working to — a closing date, an insurance claim window, a decision on next year's budget. The roof inspection is free, and we'll confirm the appointment before we come out.
If you already know something is wrong, you may not need an inspection at all — roof repair is likely the faster route, and for an active leak go straight to emergency roof repair.
Roof inspection questions
How long does an inspection take?+
That depends on the size and complexity of the roof and how much there is to look at. A simple roof is quick; a large or cut-up roof with several planes and penetrations takes longer.
Do I need to be there?+
It helps. If you're on site we can point out what we found and answer questions while we're still looking at it, which is more useful than reading about it later.
Will you tell me I need a new roof?+
Only if you do. Plenty of the roofs we look at need a repair, or need nothing at all beyond keeping an eye on something. We'd rather be the company you call again than the one that sold you a roof early.
Can you inspect a house I'm buying?+
Yes. A roofing-specific look at the roof is a common request during a purchase, and it's a reasonable thing to want before you commit.
What does an inspection cost?+
SureRoof roof inspections are free. We'll assess the roof, explain what we find and provide a written estimate if work is needed.