What buyers should know
Improper flashing where the roof meets a wall or chimney, which often stays hidden until staining shows up inside.
Roof guide
Roof Inspection Checklist: What a Home Inspector Is Really Looking At
Roof problems rarely stay limited to the roof. Once water gets past shingles, flashing, or drainage details, the damage often spreads into sheathing, insulation, drywall, and interior finishes. That is why buyers benefit from understanding the roof before the first leak belongs to them.
If the roof is worn, poorly repaired, or close to replacement age, that matters most before closing. A clear inspection gives buyers context for repair requests, price concessions, and specialist follow-up while there is still room to make decisions calmly.
How to think about it
Learn the system first, then decide how serious it is.
A roof inspection helps buyers catch the earlier version of an expensive story. It shows what still has useful life, what needs maintenance soon, and what is already turning into a genuine repair or replacement issue.
- Shingle wear, granule loss, fastening patterns, ridge-cap condition, and visible patchwork that may signal deferred replacement.
- Flashing at valleys, chimneys, sidewalls, pipe penetrations, skylights, and every transition where leaks usually start first.
- Roof decking, fascia, soffits, and visible framing clues that suggest sagging, moisture damage, or long-term stress.
- Attic ventilation, insulation coverage, and the signs of heat or moisture imbalance that can shorten roof life from underneath.
- Gutters, downspouts, splash management, and where roof water actually ends up once it leaves the eaves.
What buyers should know
Aging shingles that still look acceptable from the street but are brittle, lifted, or close to the end of service life.
What buyers should know
Poor attic ventilation that traps heat and moisture, accelerating roof wear and increasing the odds of hidden damage.
What buyers should know
Drainage that dumps water near the foundation, creating a roof problem that eventually becomes a structure or moisture problem too.