HomeRoof guide
Roof guideKnow your roof without climbing it.
Plain facts about how a roof ages, what weather does to it and what you can check from the yard and the attic.
Reading a roof from the ground
Seven places tell you most of what a roof is doing. Stand back far enough to see the whole slope; binoculars help.
- 01
Ridge
The top line where two slopes meet, finished with cap shingles and often a ridge vent.
Look for: caps that look lifted, cracked or missing; a ridge line that dips or waves; cap pieces in the yard after wind.
- 02
Chimney
Brick, mortar and the crown on top. Water that gets into the chimney finds its way down beside it.
Look for: cracks in the crown or crumbling mortar; stains on the brick below the roof line; a ceiling stain near the chimney inside.
- 03
Flashing
The metal that seals every joint: where the roof meets the chimney, a wall, a skylight or a vent pipe.
Look for: metal that looks lifted, rusted or patched with tar; a stain right below a chimney, wall or vent; drips only when the rain comes from one side.
- 04
Valley
The channel where two roof planes meet. It carries more water than any other part of the roof.
Look for: leaves or grit piled in the channel; shingles worn thin along the valley line; water spilling off the bottom of the valley in heavy rain.
- 05
Eaves & gutters
The roof edge: drip edge, fascia board and the gutter that catches everything the roof sheds.
Look for: gutters overflowing, sagging or pulling away; granules like coarse sand collecting in the gutter; peeling paint or soft wood on the fascia board.
- 06
A leak inside
Water you can see indoors. The stain is rarely right under the opening: water runs along the deck and rafters first.
Look for: brown rings on a ceiling or a wall; drips or damp wood in the attic after rain; a musty smell or wet insulation.
- 07
Storm damage
Wind lifts and creases shingles; hail knocks granules off and dents metal. Some of it only shows from close up.
Look for: missing, creased or torn shingles; dark patches where granules came off; dents in gutters, vents or downspouts.
Signs a roof is getting old
- Curling or cupping
- Shingle edges turning up, or the middle sinking, as the shingle dries out.
- Granules in the gutters
- The sandy coating wearing off; a lot of it means the shingles are ageing.
- Bald or dark patches
- Spots where the coating is gone and the shingle underneath shows.
- Cracked or missing tabs
- Brittle shingles break in wind and cold.
- Daylight in the attic
- Light through the boards, or stains on the underside of the deck.
- A sagging line
- A dip in the ridge or a slope can mean a soft deck underneath.
One sign alone is not a verdict. Several together, on an older roof, are worth a proper look.
After a storm
Walk the yard
Look at each roof slope from the ground, and for shingle pieces or cap tabs in the grass.
Check the gutters
Granules, shingle bits or dents in the gutters and downspouts after hail.
Look at the metal
Vents, flashing and pipe boots that look bent, lifted or dented.
Look inside
Ceilings and the attic, for new stains or drips over the next few rains.
Take dated photos
From the yard, before anything is moved or cleaned up.
Stay off the roof. Wet shingles are slippery and storm damage is not always visible from up close anyway. Dated photos from the ground are what helps.
Ventilation: the part of the roof you never see
- Intake and exhaust
- Air comes in low at the soffits and leaves high at the ridge or roof vents. Both halves matter.
- Signs of poor ventilation
- An attic that is very hot in summer, frost on nail tips in winter, ice ridges at the eaves, a musty smell.
- Keep the soffits clear
- Insulation pushed into the eaves can block the intake. Baffles keep a path open.
Through the year
The current season is marked.
- Look over each slope from the yard after the first storms
- Clear gutters and downspouts of winter debris
- Check the attic after a heavy rain
- Trim branches that touch or hang over the roof
- Notice how hot the attic gets on a sunny day
- Look for moss or streaks on shaded slopes
- Clean gutters once the leaves are down
- Look at the flashing and pipe boots before winter
- Make sure downspouts carry water away from the house
- Watch for ice ridges and big icicles along the eaves
- Do not chip at ice on the roof
- Look for new stains on ceilings after a thaw
When to call
- Water is coming in, or a stain is growing
- Shingles or caps are missing after wind
- Metal flashing has lifted or come loose
- The roof line sags
- You are buying or selling a house and want to know where the roof stands
Repair or a new roof: how do I know?
It depends on the age of the roof, how much of it is affected and the deck underneath. The crew looks, then explains both options in plain words so you can decide.
Should I climb up and look myself?
Please do not. Roofs are steep and slippery, more so when wet. Photos from the yard, a window or the attic are enough to start a request.
How much does a roof cost?
Roof prices come from the size and pitch of the roof, the material and what is found underneath, so there are no prices on this site. Request an inspection and ask the crew about your roof.
What happens after a storm?
Storm damage inspection is on the services list: every slope, the ridge, vents, gutters and the attic, with photos of what was found. Dated photos you take from the ground help.