Homeowner’s Roof Inspection Checklist

Did you know that around 77% of roofs inspected end up needing roof repair in the United States? As a homeowner, you rely on the safety and stability of your home. 

That is why if a roof has major damage, a homeowner is likely to call in a roof contractor to come in and fix that damage. However, fixing a roof is not cheap, so some of you reading this might want to take a few measures before making that call. 

This is when you may need to come up with a roof inspection checklist. 

What do you have to do? How do you know if you need a new roof or a roof replacement? 

This is your guide. 

Look Inside Your House 

Some of you reading this may be eager to take out the ladder in your garage and climb up to the top of your roof. Do not be in such a rush to do this, because there are a few measures that you need to take to make sure that it is safe to do this. 

You can start by looking at rooms near your roof from the safety of your own home. To do this, you need to go up to the highest floor of your home which is closest to the roof. For most people, this is either going to be a bedroom or an attic. 

From there, you need to take a look at what your ceiling looks like. Is there any notable damage to it? Is any part of your ceiling sagging compared to the rest of your ceiling? Is there water leaking onto the floor in that room? 

If you notice any of this on the top floor of your home, that is a notable sign that there could be roof damage. 

Walk Around Your House 

After you look for damage inside your house, you should take one walk around the outside of your home before you get your ladder out. Look to see if there is any obvious sign of damage that you can see from the ground. 

You may be able to spot weak parts of your roof, damage to shingles, damage to part of your chimney, etc. 

If there is nothing obvious that you see from the ground, it is likely time to get your ladder out. However, if you do spot damage like what is described above, then you either need to take extra caution with a ladder or wait for a roofing professional to get to your home. 

Look for Water Spots 

One of the first things that you should be looking at is if you have puddles of water forming on your roof. If you do, that could be a sign that your home has water damage. 

Even if there is no leaking from the roof coming yet, the water being in one big puddle on your roof means that you could have a weak spot. It also means that a spot is forming from which future water damage may originate.

This is something that you need to take note of and get on top of before the situation gets out of hand. 

Look for Sagging 

Going off the water spots above, you need to look for any sagging in your roof. If there is no obvious spot, this may take some walking around on your roof. 

With this, you are mainly looking for any part of your roof that looks lower than the rest of your roof. On top of that, you are looking for a spot that does not feel like it can handle your weight compared to the rest of your roof. 

If you do find a part of your roof that is sagging, you are going to need to address it. The first thing that will happen if you don’t is the water damage described above. After that, it could even lead to a part of your roof collapsing. 

You would need to replace your roof in that situation, and that does not come cheap. Considering the average price of a new roof is $8,600 in the United States, you are going to want to address this before it reaches that point. 

Look for Damaged or Missing Shingles 

Finally, you need to look closely at your roof and see if there are any damaged or missing shingles. This is important because shingles offer an extra layer of protection for your roof. 

Think of it as bubble wrap around a fragile package. The bubble wrap takes the initial hit if there is any pressure coming in that direction. 

Without that bubble wrap, the fragile package takes a direct hit and that can cause damage. In the case of a roof, it can weaken the structure, make it more vulnerable to water damage and debris from storms, and more. 

Any damage to shingles needs to be addressed immediately, especially if you have not inspected your roof in a long time. 

Create Your Roof Inspection Checklist 

These are a few of the things that you are going to need on a roof inspection checklist. You want to make sure it is safe to go on your roof before getting the ladder out. So, check the highest floor of your house and take a lap outside your house. 

Then, look for any water spots or sagging on your roof, and any damage to shingles. If you do all of that, you should know if your roof needs additional repairs or replacement. 

Do you need help getting started? Message us here to get a free inspection.