Homeowner guide

What to Expect From a Free Roof Inspection

If you've never had your roof looked at professionally, a free inspection can sound like a sales visit in disguise. Here's exactly what happens on ours, so you know what a good one looks like, whoever you hire.

1. A quick conversation first

We ask what you've noticed: a stain on the ceiling, shingles in the yard after a storm, a bid from another contractor. Age of the roof matters too. Most asphalt shingle roofs run 20–25 years, and problems cluster in the last third of that life.

2. The ground-level and rooftop walk

A real inspection means getting on the roof, not squinting from the driveway. Every slope gets walked and photographed. Here's what gets checked:

• Shingles: cracking, curling, granule loss, and hail bruising.
• Flashing around chimneys, skylights, and wall joints, the most common leak source.
• Vents, boots, and pipe collars, where dried-out rubber lets water in quietly.
• Gutters and drainage, including granule buildup that signals an aging roof.
• Decking and soft spots underfoot that point to trapped moisture.
• Attic and ceiling stains inside the home where accessible.

3. Your roof gets a grade, A through F

A grade turns a pile of photos into a decision. An A or B roof needs nothing but monitoring. A C usually means targeted repairs and a few more good years. A D or F roof is at or past the point where repairs stop being economical, and that's when replacement, or an insurance claim, is worth discussing.

4. Storm damage and insurance

Hail and wind damage are often invisible from the ground but obvious in close-up photos. If we find it, we document it the way an adjuster needs it documented. Most carriers limit how long after a storm you can file, so a roof that took hail last season is on a clock.

5. How long it takes, and what it costs

Plan on 45 to 60 minutes for an average home. Our inspection and photo report cost nothing, and we fix one minor issue, a lifted shingle, a cracked boot, loose flashing, free while we're up there. You get the report either way, with no obligation to hire us.