Roof inspection

What It Means

A roof inspection is a check of the roof covering and the attic under it for damage, wear and signs of water getting in. A FEMA roof maintenance guide advises looking over the roof surface for wear, ponding or damage at least once a year. The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac home maintenance checklists add looking for buckling or damaged and missing shingles, clearing debris, and checkingChecking accountA bank or credit union account for everyday money going in and out, used by debit card, checks, transfers and direct deposit. See more the attic, roof and eaves for water damage and proper ventilation.

How It Sounds at Home

• "We should get somebody up on the roof after that hailstorm."
• "There's a water stain on the bedroom ceiling, I think it's the roof."
• "The inspector said we've got a few years left on these shingles."

The Breakdown

How often

What to look for. Damaged, buckled or missing shingles, cracked caulk, rust spots, decay, and debris sitting on the roof. Inside, look for water damage in the attic and around the eaves, and check the ventilation.

Make it last between checks. Clearing debris from the roof and cleaning the gutters and downspoutsDownspoutThe vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation. See more are both on the same checklists, so do them together. Buhata's own suggestion: write down what you saw and the date each year, so next year's look has something to compare against.

Good to Know

Roof work is a fall hazard. Buhata's own suggestion is to do your part from the ground (binoculars help) and from inside the attic, and to hire a licensed roofer for anything that needs someone on the roof. If you do use a ladder, OSHA's ladder guidance says to inspect it first, set it on firm, level ground and keep three points of contact while you climb. Fannie Mae's severe weather page treats a roof inspection as part of getting a home ready for storms, so a check before your storm season makes sense.

Related Terms and Categories

• Attic ventilation

  The flow of outside air through an attic, in at vents under the eaves and out near the peak, that carries moisture out and keeps the attic cold in winter.

• Downspout

  The vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation.

• Gutter cleaning

  Clearing leaves, needles and debris out of roof gutters and downspouts so rain drains away. CSU Extension advises spring and fall at a minimum.

• Licensed contractor

  A contractor who holds the license your state or local government requires for the kind of work being done, which you can check before you hire.

• Homeowners insurance claim

  A request to your homeowners insurer to pay for damage or loss the policy covers, backed by photos, a list of what was lost and your receipts.

• Seasonal home maintenance

  Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.

Home maintenance and repairs