What's actually wrong with my roof?
For the person who just had a storm. The one who noticed a stain on the ceiling. The one whose neighbor just got a new roof. Read what fits. Skip the rest.
First. Don't get up on your roof.
We mean this. People who work on roofs every day still get hurt doing it. You shouldn't be the one finding out what's broken from on top of one.
Almost everything you need to figure out about your roof, you can see from the ground, or from inside the attic with a flashlight. The next four sections walk you through it. If you still can't tell what's going on, that's what we're for. We'll come look for free and tell you the truth, even if the truth is “it's fine, leave it alone.”
What you can see from the ground.
Walk all four sides of your house. Look up. Look down. Here's what to look for, and what it usually means.
Shingles in the yard
If you find pieces of shingle in your yard, in your neighbor's yard, or under bushes, your roof lost them. Wind got under them. The rest are now suspect.
Bare patches up there
Stand across the street and look up at the roof. Anywhere it looks a different color, usually darker, is a spot where the shingle or its protective layer is gone.
Black grit in the gutters
Look at the bottom of a downspout, or open a gutter. Some sandy black grit on a new roof is normal. A lot of it on an old roof means the shingles are at the end of their life.
Bent or missing metal
Around the chimney, in the valleys where two slopes meet, and around vents and pipes. Anywhere metal is bent up, missing, or rusty, that's where water gets in first.
Dips or sagging
Look at the ridge of the roof, the top line. It should be straight. A dip, a wave, or a sag means the wood underneath is failing. That's a structural call, not a shingle one.
Stains inside the house
Brown or yellow rings on ceilings or upper walls. Bubbled paint. A musty smell in an upstairs closet. The leak you're looking for is usually nowhere near where you see the stain.
Photos to take before you call anyone.
Most homeowners don't know to do this. Adjusters and honest roofers both benefit when you have your own pictures from before they show up. Storm chasers can't invent damage that your photos prove wasn't there.
- One photo of each side of the house, from the yard, with the full roofline in frame.
- Close-ups of anything that looks wrong. Debris in the yard, missing shingles, dents in the gutters or in metal vents.
- If you can safely enter the attic, point a flashlight up at the rafters and the underside of the roof. Photograph daylight, dark stains, or wet wood.
- Any storm debris in the yard. Branches, hail on the lawn, broken siding pieces.
- Make sure your phone is set to date-stamp photos. The date and time on each photo is what makes them useful later.
Repair, or replace?
There's no single rule. Most honest roofers use some version of this. Find the row that sounds like you.
This is a guideline, not a rule. Every roof tells its own story when you get up there. Anyone who recommends replacement before going up there is selling you something, not assessing your roof.
What to do this week.
Pick the column that matches your situation.
If water is coming in
- Move what's underneath. Buckets, towels, anything that can't get wet.
- If your attic is safe to enter, channel the drip into a container so it doesn't soak the joists.
- Don't get on the roof to tarp it. Call us. We'll tarp it for free.
- Take photos of the inside damage now. They matter later for insurance.
If a storm just came through
- Take your photos before anyone else gets there. (Section 03.)
- Call your insurance to report the storm. Don't file the claim yet.
- Get an honest roofer to look first, before the adjuster. Two if you can.
- Don't sign anything anyone hands you in your driveway. Read chapter 04.
If you just want to know
- Use the Storm Check tool. It shows what storms have actually hit your address.
- Have a roofer come out for a free look. Two is smarter than one.
- Don't let anyone start work before you've gotten a written estimate and an honest roof age.
When you're ready for a real look from a real person, that's what we're for.
Tools to help you check.
Three things we built because customers kept asking. All free. None of them require you to talk to a salesperson before you get something useful.
Roof readiness checklist
Don't wait for damage. Take baseline photos, clear the gutters, and know your deductible before the next wind, hail, or ice event hits.
Storm Check
Type in your address. We'll check recent NOAA hail, wind, and tornado reports near your house.
Problem Finder
Pick what you're seeing. A stain, a missing piece, a drip. We'll tell you what it most likely means and what to do next.
Free roof check
One of our roofers comes out, takes a real look from a ladder, takes drone photos, and tells you the truth. No sales pitch.