A roof inspection report is the written record of an inspection: what was checked and what could not be reached, a photo and location for each problem, how urgent each one is, and the repair each needs. A good report lets you see your roof’s condition without climbing up and lets you compare repair quotes on the same scope. For an inspection with a full report, call NEMA Roofing at 866-631-3366.
What should a roof inspection report include?
- The basics. Address, date, weather on the day, roof type and material, and access (walked, ladder only, drone).
- Scope and limits. Which parts were inspected: each slope, the flashing, the drainage, the attic or ceiling space. Anything not reached should be named, with the reason.
- Findings. One entry per problem: a photo, where it is on the roof, what is wrong and what it can lead to.
- Priority. A rating on every finding, so you know what to fix first.
- Recommended action. Repair, replace a component, monitor, or evaluate further, with enough detail to get a quote.
- Overall condition. A plain summary of where the roof stands and whether repairs or a replacement plan make more sense.
- Maintenance items. Upkeep such as clearing gutters or trimming branches, kept apart from repairs.
- Who inspected. The company, a contact and its contractor license number. NEMA Roofing’s is CSLB license #1083283.
Recommendations should fit your roof’s material and layout, not read like a form that could be about any house.
What do the priority ratings mean?
- Urgent or immediate: water is getting in now or will in the next rain. Arrange the repair right away.
- Repair: a failure that has not leaked yet. Schedule it in dry weather.
- Monitor: wear that needs no work today. It will be photographed again at the next inspection.
- Further evaluation: the inspector saw a symptom but needs more to find the cause: lifting tiles, a water test, opening a section, or a structural engineer for sagging framing. Ask what that step involves.
How findings turn into a repair schedule is covered in roof inspection and repair steps.
Roof report terms, in plain words
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Flashing | Metal pieces that seal joints: at walls, chimneys, skylights, valleys and edges |
| Step flashing / counterflashing | Stepped pieces woven into the roof along a wall, and the cover piece set into the wall over them |
| Drip edge | Metal strip at the roof edge that sends water into the gutter instead of behind it |
| Underlayment | The water-shedding layer between the roof covering and the deck |
| Deck or sheathing | The boards or panels the roof is fastened to |
| Pipe boot or pipe jack | The flashing and rubber collar around a plumbing vent |
| Valley | The inside corner where two roof slopes meet and water collects |
| Granule loss | Shingles shedding their mineral surface, leaving the asphalt exposed to sun |
| Ponding | Water that stays on a flat or low-slope roof after rain |
| Efflorescence | White, chalky deposit on concrete tile; the Tile Roofing Institute describes it as temporary, surface-only and not harmful to the tile |
| Fascia / soffit | The board along the roof edge behind the gutter, and the underside of the overhang |
What are the red flags in a roof inspection report?
- No photos, or photos with nothing to show they are your roof.
- “Roof needs replacing” with no findings, locations or reasons behind it.
- No mention of the attic or ceiling space, and no note saying why it was skipped.
- Every finding marked urgent, or only one option offered when repairs are plausible.
- Pressure to sign a contract on the day of the inspection.
What should you do with the report?
- Handle anything urgent first.
- Use the findings list as the scope when you ask for repair quotes, so every quote prices the same work.
- File it with your roof warranty, repair invoices and past reports.
- Share it when needed: with a buyer, an insurer after a storm, or a contractor quoting solar.
- Book the next inspection; the new report is most useful next to the old one. Our post on annual roof inspections covers when.
Which roof inspection services come with a report?
Every inspection should: a routine check on a house, a post-storm visit, a pre-sale inspection or a commercial roof survey. The depth changes with the purpose; our guide to a comprehensive roof inspection sets out the full scope. The roofing inspection checklist covers the parts you can check yourself between reports.
Get an inspection and report
NEMA Roofing sends inspectors from five locations (Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Downey) to properties throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties; start with the Ventura County area page or the full service area list. See our roof inspection service, or call 866-631-3366.
