What is included in a roof inspection?
Short answer. A thorough roof inspection covers the shingles, flashing, pipe boots, vents, valleys, roof edges and gutters from on the roof, plus the attic decking, ventilation and any signs of leaks from inside. It should end with photos, measurements and a plain explanation of what needs repair, what is storm damage, and how much life the roof has left.
On the roof
- Shingles: granule loss, cracks, curling, creases from wind, and hail bruises that are hard to see from the ground.
- Flashing: at walls, chimneys, skylights and dormers, including step flashing and counterflashing.
- Penetrations: pipe boots, which commonly crack in the Georgia sun, plus exhaust and box vents.
- Valleys: wear, debris and how they were built.
- Ridge and hips: cap shingles, ridge vent and exposed nails.
- Edges: drip edge, starter course, fascia, soffit and gutters, including dents from hail.
In the attic
- Water stains, wet insulation and rusty nail tips.
- Soft, delaminated or sagging decking.
- Ventilation: soffit intake, exhaust at the ridge, and blocked vents.
- Signs of moisture such as mold growth or frost marks in winter.
Around the property
For storm inspections, a good inspector also checks siding, window screens, AC fins and fences. Damage to soft metals helps confirm hail size and date.
What you should get afterward
- Photos of every problem, labeled by slope.
- Roof measurements and pitch.
- A clear call: maintenance, repair, replacement or an insurance claim.
Read what to expect in a roof inspection and the Georgia roof maintenance checklist.