Spring is the best time to find roof damage, because winter caused it and summer storms will exploit it. A spring roof inspection takes under an hour and it is the cheapest thing you can do to protect a roof in the Triangle.

This roof inspection checklist covers what to look at, in what order, and what each finding means. Every step can be done from the ground, a ladder at the eave, or inside your attic. None of it requires walking on the roof.

Before You Start: Two Safety Rules

Stay off the roof surface. Wet shingles, loose granules, and moss are more slippery than they look, and soft decking gives way without warning. Use a ladder on level ground with someone home. Most of what you need to see is visible with binoculars from the yard and a flashlight in the attic.

Step 1: Walk the Perimeter and Look Up

Start on the ground and circle the entire house. Photograph each roof plane so you have a reference for next time.

Look for:

• Shingles that are missing, lifted, or sitting crooked
• Shingles curling at the corners or cupping in the middle
• Dark patches or streaks, which can mean granule loss or algae
• Any visible dip or wave in the roofline
• Debris caught in valleys, especially pine straw and oak limbs

A sagging line between rafters is the one finding here that warrants a prompt call. It suggests the decking underneath has taken on moisture.

Step 2: Check Gutters and Downspouts

Winter fills gutters with everything the trees dropped in fall, and spring rain has nowhere to go.

Clear the debris, then run a hose into the gutter at the high end. Water should move to the downspout and exit at the bottom without spilling over the front edge.

While you are there, check for:

• Granule buildup. Coarse black grit means shingle wear.
• Sagging or separated sections. Gutters pulling away from the fascia usually mean the fascia behind them is wet.
• Downspouts that discharge against the foundation. Extensions should carry water at least four feet out.
• Rust or standing water. Both point to slope problems.

Failed gutters send water behind the fascia and into the soffit, and that damage costs far more than the gutter repair would have.

Step 3: Inspect Flashing and Penetrations

This is where most leaks begin. From a ladder at the eave or with binoculars, check every spot where something interrupts the roof surface.

What to Check	What Good Looks Like	Warning Sign
Chimney flashing	Metal tight to masonry, counter-flashing set into mortar	Gaps, rust, roofing tar patches
Valley metal	Clean channel, no debris, no rust-through	Standing debris, pinholes, lifted edges
Pipe boots	Rubber collar flexible and sealed to the pipe	Cracked, split, or hardened rubber
Sidewall flashing	Step flashing layered under each shingle course	Continuous caulk bead instead of metal
Vents and exhaust	Housings secure, screens intact	Loose fasteners, dented or displaced hoods
Skylights	Flashing kit intact, glass seal sound	Fogging between panes, staining on interior trim

 

Any spot where a previous repair used roofing cement instead of proper flashing should go on your list. Sealant buys a season or two, then cracks.

Step 4: Go Into the Attic

The attic tells you what the roof will not. Pick a bright day, turn the lights off, and give your eyes a minute to adjust.

Look for:

• Daylight through the decking or around penetrations
• Dark streaks or stains on the underside of the roof deck
• Damp or compressed insulation, especially near eaves and around chimneys
• Rusted nail tips poking through the decking, which indicates condensation
• Blocked soffit vents, often caused by insulation pushed into the eave
• Mold or a musty smell, which means moisture has been present a while

Ventilation problems are the most commonly missed item here. An attic that cannot breathe cooks shingles from underneath and shortens the life of the whole system.

Step 5: Look at the Ceilings Inside

Walk every room on the top floor and look up. Check closets and the corners where the ceiling meets an exterior wall, which is where staining shows first.

You are looking for rings, discoloration, bubbling paint, and soft spots. Note the location relative to the roof above, but remember that water travels along framing before it drops, so the entry point is often several feet away.

Step 6: Note What Winter Left Behind

Look for impact marks first. Falling limbs during ice storms leave bruises on shingles that look minor from the ground but have already fractured the mat underneath. Hail leaves similar marks, and that kind of storm damage is often insurable when it is documented promptly.

Then check the north-facing planes for moss and algae. Those slopes stay damp longest, and moss in particular lifts shingle edges and holds water where it does not belong.

Your Printable Spring Checklist

• [ ] Photograph every roof plane from the ground
• [ ] Note missing, curled, cracked, or crooked shingles
• [ ] Check the roofline for sagging or waves
• [ ] Clear gutters and flush with a hose
• [ ] Check downspout discharge distance from the foundation
• [ ] Measure granule accumulation in gutters
• [ ] Inspect chimney, valley, sidewall, and vent flashing
• [ ] Check every pipe boot for cracked rubber
• [ ] Look for daylight in the attic
• [ ] Feel insulation for dampness near eaves and chimneys
• [ ] Confirm soffit and ridge vents are clear
• [ ] Walk top-floor ceilings for stains or bubbling
• [ ] Check north slopes for moss and algae
• [ ] Trim limbs that overhang the roof

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a roof be inspected?

Twice a year is the standard recommendation, plus an additional look after any significant storm. In the Triangle, spring and fall are the natural checkpoints, spring for winter damage and fall to prepare for it.

What does a professional inspection include that I cannot do myself?

A roofer gets on the surface safely, checks fastener condition and seam integrity up close, evaluates decking by feel, and assesses remaining service life based on the specific product on your roof. On low-slope sections, moisture readings show whether water has gotten into the insulation.

Is a spring roof inspection worth it if my roof is only a few years old?

Yes. Newer roofs fail at details, not at materials. A poorly installed pipe boot or a valley that collects debris will cause a leak on a five-year-old roof just as readily as on a twenty-year-old one.

What if I find damage during my inspection?

Photograph it and get a professional look before the next storm. If the damage traces to a storm event, that documentation matters for an insurance claim.

Let Us Take the Second Look

Your own inspection catches most of the obvious problems. A professional inspection catches the ones that are still cheap to fix.

Red Letter Roofing offers free inspections across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Garner, Wake Forest, Morrisville, and Carrboro. We will walk your roof, show you photos of anything we find, and tell you whether it needs roof repair now or can wait. Our residential roofing team handles everything from a single flashing detail to a full roof replacement. Call (919) 977-5318 or book your free inspection.