Roofing
Roof Inspection: What a Roofer Looks For and When to Replace
A roof inspection tells you how much life your roof has left and whether a problem can be repaired or the roof should be replaced. It is worth doing after a big storm, before buying or selling a house, and any time you see a stain on the ceiling.
Key points
- A roof inspection covers the shingles, flashing, gutters and drip edge, ventilation, and the attic underneath.
- Curling, cracked, or missing shingles, granules in the gutters, and loose flashing are the common warning signs.
- Stains on the ceiling or frost in the attic point to leaks or ventilation problems.
- Spot repairs make sense on a roof with years left; widespread wear on an older roof usually means replacement.
What gets inspected
A complete inspection looks at the roof from outside and from the attic:
- Shingles: curling, cracking, missing pieces, and worn granules.
- Flashing: at chimneys, walls, skylights, valleys, and pipes.
- Edges: drip edge, gutters, and the condition of fascia and trim.
- Ventilation: soffit and ridge vents, and whether air can move.
- The attic: stains, damp insulation, frost, and daylight through the deck.
Warning signs you can see from the ground
Shingles that curl or lift, bare patches, granules collecting in the gutters, sagging along the ridge, and loose metal around the chimney are all worth a closer look. On a simple gable roof, most of the roof is visible from the yard.
Repair or replace?
If the shingles are in good shape and the problem is local, like failed flashing, a few blown-off shingles, or a worn pipe boot, a repair is the right call. If the shingles are worn across the whole roof, leaks keep showing up in new places, or the roof is reaching the typical 20 to 30 years of an asphalt shingle roof, replacement is usually the better value.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a roof be inspected?
Every few years, after major storms, and whenever you notice a stain or leak.
Can I inspect my own roof?
You can look from the ground and the attic. Walking a roof is risky; leave that to a roofer.
Does a stain on the ceiling always mean a roof leak?
Not always. It can also be condensation from poor ventilation or a plumbing leak, which is why the attic is part of the inspection.
Need a new roof?
Cedar House Carpentry handles roofing across Cape Cod and the South Shore with our own in-house crew, fully licensed and insured.