Roof Inspection Checklist for Homeowners
After a storm, most roof damage can’t be seen from the street, and a lot of homeowners don’t know what to look for. This roof inspection checklist walks you through what you can safely check from the ground and from inside your home, what to document before anyone touches the roof, and when it’s time to call a roofer.
Safety first: never climb onto your roof, and never get on a wet roof. Everything on this checklist can be checked from the yard, the driveway, a window, or your attic.
How to Use This Checklist
Go through each section below and mark every item Yes, No, or Unknown. If you answer yes or unknown to any item, schedule a professional roof inspection as soon as you can. Small problems caught early are usually repairs; the same problems left through another storm season often turn into decking damage, interior leaks, or a denied insurance claim.
1. Shingle Condition (from the ground)
- Missing shingles — gaps or exposed dark underlayment, most often on ridges, edges, and the windward side of the house.
- Curling shingles — edges lifting or cupping instead of lying flat.
- Missing or shifted ridge caps — the shingles along the peak of the roof.
- Granule loss at gutter spouts — piles of sand-like granules washing out of the downspouts.
- Bald spots — dark, smooth patches where the granule surface is gone.
- Loose or damaged flashing — bent or lifted metal around chimneys, walls, and vents.
- Loose satellite dishes or roof-mounted equipment — anything bolted through the roof that has moved.
2. Water Damage (inside the home)
- Water stains on the ceiling — yellow or brown rings, especially on top-floor ceilings.
- Water stains on the attic decking — dark spots on the underside of the roof boards.
- Mold or musty odors in the attic or upstairs rooms.
- Daylight visible through the roof boards when you look up from the attic.
A stain on the ceiling is almost never directly under the hole. Water runs along the decking and rafters before it drips, so the leak can be several feet away.
3. Siding, Exterior, and Yard Clues
Hail and wind leave marks on everything, not just the roof. These are some of the easiest clues to spot:
- Cracked or dented siding
- Paint chipped by impact on trim, fences, or siding
- Loose fascia or trim along the roofline
- Damaged window screens — torn or dented screens are a common hail indicator
- Tree limbs on or near the roof
- Fence or shed damage
- Shingle pieces on the ground
If your neighborhood was hit, you can also check your address on our Texas hail map to see the recorded hail size and date.
4. Document the Damage Before Repairs
If you may file an insurance claim, documentation matters as much as the damage itself. Do this before any repairs are made:
- Take clear photos of every piece of visible damage, inside and out.
- Write down the storm date and approximate time.
- Save weather alerts or reports from that day.
- Avoid repairs until the damage is documented — unless the roof is actively leaking. If it is, tarp it and keep your receipts. See emergency roof repair and tarping.
5. Next Steps
- Schedule a professional roof inspection. A roofer can check what you can’t safely see from the ground.
- Request a written condition report with photos, not just a verbal opinion.
- Review repair vs. replacement options — a good roofer will tell you when a repair is enough.
- Discuss insurance options if applicable. Read how the roof insurance claims process works before you call your carrier.
Get a Free Roof Inspection
Answered yes or unknown to anything above? All Out Roofing provides free, photo-documented roof inspections for homeowners in Katy, Fulshear, Cypress, Richmond, Spring, and the greater Houston area. You’ll get a written report showing exactly what we found, and a straight answer on whether you need a repair, a replacement, or nothing at all.
All Out Roofing, LLC
25220 Kingsland Blvd, Ste 100, Katy, Texas 77494
Phone: (281) 769-4282 · Email: info@alloutroofs.com