What a real roof inspection looks like
A roof inspection that took eight minutes is not a roof inspection. It's a sales pitch.
Here is the actual sequence we walk on a real inspection — and what should make you uneasy if the inspection you're getting skips any of it.
On the ground first
Before the ladder goes up, we walk the perimeter of the house and look up. Sagging fascia, stained soffits, separated drip edge, gutter overflow stains on siding — these tell us where to focus once we're on the roof.
If a contractor doesn't look at your house before climbing it, he's not inspecting — he's looking for things to charge you for.
On the roof
A real inspection walks every slope. Every penetration (vents, chimneys, skylights) gets photographed from at least two angles. The valleys, the ridge caps, and the flashing at any wall transition get specific attention. Hail damage on shingles has a particular pattern — random, slightly soft, often clustered on the south and west exposures. We look for that pattern, not generic "damaged shingles."
We also lift a shingle here and there to check the sealant bond. Wind damage often shows as broken bonds before it shows as missing shingles.
In the attic when possible
The roof from above tells you one story. The roof deck from below tells you another. We look for water staining on the deck, daylight at penetrations that shouldn't have any, and rust on nail tips that signals long-term moisture exposure.
The written report
When we get back to the truck, you should leave with:
- Date and address of the inspection.
- Photos of every concern (and where on the roof it is).
- Estimated remaining roof life.
- A specific list of things that need work, in priority order.
- An estimate, in writing, with line items — not a single round number scrawled on a clipboard.
You get this report whether you hire us or not. If you decide to file an insurance claim later, you'll have documentation. If you decide your roof is fine, you'll have a baseline to compare against next year.
Red flags
- Inspection takes under fifteen minutes.
- No ladder went up at all.
- "We'll give you an estimate right now" before they've been on the roof.
- Damage in the photos that you can't make sense of (chalk marks, scuff marks, dent patterns that look uniform).
- High-pressure ask for a contingency signature before you've slept on it.
A reputable contractor doesn't need your signature today. They need the inspection done well.
If you want a written, photographed, no-pressure inspection of your roof, that's what we do. Even if it's just a baseline to look at next spring.