A complete roof inspection covers four areas: exterior surfaces, drainage, interior signs, and structure. Here's the full checklist a pro should work through, plus the safe parts you can do yourself between visits.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
A proper inspection takes 45 minutes to 2 hours and covers four distinct areas. Skipping any one of them leaves blind spots. If a "free" inspection wraps up in 15 minutes, you got a sales walk-through, not an inspection.
Shingles, flashing, ridge caps, vents, chimney crown and counter-flashing, skylights, satellite mounts, and any roof penetrations.
Gutters, downspouts, splash blocks, fascia, soffits, and the slope of water runoff away from the foundation.
Attic for daylight and moisture, ceiling stains, peeling paint near walls, mold smell, and ventilation airflow.
Rafters, trusses, roof decking, sagging or soft spots, and the integrity of any visible framing in the attic.
Use this to verify that any roofer you hire actually does the job. A good inspection report will reference most of these items, with photos for any concern.
You should never replace a professional inspection with a DIY check, but a quarterly ground-and-attic walk-through catches surprises between visits. Stay off the roof itself. Most homeowner roof injuries are from falls.
If you find anything you can't explain, schedule a pro inspection. See signs you need a roof inspection for what each finding means.
Some findings shouldn't wait for the next scheduled inspection. Call a roofer the same week if you see any of these:
For storm-specific findings, see the post-storm inspection guide.
The best inspection checklist in the world doesn't help if you forget to do the inspection. Set a yearly email reminder for your full pro inspection, then a quarterly reminder for the 10-minute DIY check. Both habits together cost almost nothing and prevent almost every expensive surprise.
A standard inspection covers four areas: exterior surfaces (shingles, flashing, vents, chimney), drainage (gutters, downspouts, fascia, soffits), interior signs (attic, ceilings, ventilation, insulation), and structural elements (rafters, trusses, decking). The inspector also documents findings with photos and a written report.
You can safely check from the ground: missing or curling shingles, granules in gutters, sagging rooflines, and visible flashing damage. From inside, check the attic for daylight, moisture, and stains, plus all upstairs ceilings. Don't walk the roof yourself unless you're trained — most homeowner injuries from roof maintenance come from falls, not the roof.
Stop and call a pro the moment you spot any of: an active leak, sagging or soft roof boards, daylight through the attic, large amounts of granule loss, missing shingles you can't replace, or any damage that requires you to walk the roof. A roofer's eye also catches issues you can't.
It still helps. Knowing what an inspector should cover means you can spot a rushed job — anyone in and out in 15 minutes hasn't done a proper inspection. Use the checklist to make sure the report covers exterior, interior, drainage, and structure. Ask for photos of every problem area.
Plenty exist online from roofing associations and home inspection groups. The list on this page covers the same items most of them include. The format you use matters less than going through it consistently and keeping records year over year.
Take dated photos of every issue from multiple angles. Note the date, weather conditions, and any recent storms. Keep all inspection reports together with your home records. If you ever file a storm claim, dated documentation showing the roof was in good condition before the event makes the claim much smoother.
Free yearly roof inspection reminder. No account, no app. Pair it with a quarterly DIY check using the checklist above.
Create Roof Inspection ReminderLast modified: