---
title: "How to Tell If a Roof Replacement Was Done Right | NEMA Roofing"
description: "How to tell if a roof replacement was done right: what to check from the ground, at the flashing and in the attic, which photos to ask for, and what to keep."
url: "https://nemaroofing.com/roofing-replacement/high-quality-roofing-replacement-to-upgrade-your-home/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
---

**To tell if a roof replacement was done right, walk the finished job in three places: from the ground (straight courses, clean edges, straight ridges, new metal at every wall and pipe), in the attic (dry deck, no daylight except at vents, working intake and exhaust), and in the paperwork (a finaled permit, labeled products and the warranty registration).** Most of what makes a roof last is hidden once it is on, so the best checks happen during the job as well as after it. To have a new roof looked over, call NEMA Roofing at [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366).

## What should you see from the ground?

- **Straight, even courses.** Shingle rows run parallel to the eaves with the same exposure all the way across; tile rows line up without gaps or lifted pieces.
- **Consistent color.** Patches of a different shade can mean mixed production runs or leftover bundles.
- **Straight hips and ridges** with caps made for the product line, not cut field shingles that curl.
- **Metal at every edge.** A shingle roof needs drip edge at the eaves and the rakes under the 2025 California Residential Code (R905.2.8.5), overlapped at joints and fastened to the deck.
- **No exposed nail heads** in the field of the roof, and no shingle tabs lifting.
- **Gutters** reattached tight to the fascia and sloped to their downspouts, and clear of debris.

## Which flashing details separate a good job from a fast one?

Flashing is where most shortcuts hide, because old metal can be bent back into place and covered.

| Location | What a correct job shows |
| --- | --- |
| Where a roof meets a wall | New base flashing (step or continuous) whose legs measure 4 inches or more on the wall and on the roof, with the wall leg running behind the siding; section R905.2.8.3 of the code sets those minimums |
| Where an eave runs into a sidewall | A diverter (kickout) that turns the water away from the wall; the code calls for one at this spot (R903.2.1) |
| Chimney | Base and counterflashing, and a cricket on the uphill side if the chimney is wider than 30 inches (R903.2.2) |
| Pipes and vents | New boots or flashings, not the old ones sealed over; the code requires rusted or damaged flashings, vents and similar parts to be replaced on a reroof (R908.5) |
| Skylights | The skylight maker’s flashing kit, or new flashing to its instructions |
| Valleys | Metal or woven valleys laid to the shingle maker’s method, with no nails near the valley center |

## What should the attic tell you?

- **A dry deck.** After the first real rain, the underside of the deck and the rafters should show no new wet spots or drip trails.
- **Daylight only where it belongs.** Light should come in through vents, not around pipes, chimneys or skylights.
- **Working ventilation.** The code sets a minimum net free vent area of 1/150 of the attic floor area (1/300 when certain conditions are met, CRC R806.2). Intake vents at the eaves should not be buried in insulation, and exhaust vents near the ridge should be clear.
- **New decking where it was needed.** Replaced sheets look fresh from below; compare them with the deck repair on your invoice.

## What should you check on tile and metal roofs?

- **Tile:** each tile seated and interlocked with its neighbors; the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance warns that failure to seat tile properly can lead to leaks and breakage. No cracked tiles set back on the roof (the code bars reinstalling damaged tile), and bird stops or eave closures in place.
- **Standing seam metal:** seams closed evenly along their length, panel ends and trim finished at the eaves and ridge, and no scratches through the paint where panels were handled.
- **Exposed-fastener metal:** screws driven straight with their sealing washers snug, not crushed or loose.

## What can only be checked during installation?

Nailing, underlayment laps and the deck under the old roof disappear once the new covering goes on. Ask for photos at these points:

1. The bare deck after tear-off, before any repairs.
2. Underlayment in place, with its product label visible; the code requires underlayment to carry a label showing the standard it meets (R905.1.1).
3. A section of shingles before the next course covers the nails. The code sets at least four fasteners per strip shingle, or more where the manufacturer requires, with nails long enough to reach at least 3/4 inch into the sheathing (R905.2.5, R905.2.6).
4. Flashing at walls and chimneys before it is covered.

## Which papers prove the job was done right?

- The building permit with a final inspection sign-off.
- Product names, colors and the fire class on the invoice.
- The manufacturer warranty registration and any workmanship terms in writing.
- The lien releases for each payment.

For the full order of steps from contract to close-out, see our [roof replacement tips](https://nemaroofing.com/roofing-replacement/roofing-replacement-tips-every-homeowner-should-know/), and for the layers a complete job includes, [what a roof replacement includes](https://nemaroofing.com/roofing-replacement/roofing-replacement-that-transforms-and-protects-your-property/). If you are judging a recent repair rather than a new roof, read [signs of a bad roof repair](https://nemaroofing.com/roof-repair/high-quality-roof-repair-that-protects-your-property-long-term/).

## What if something looks wrong?

Photograph it, note the date, and send it to the contractor in writing, referring to the contract and the warranty. Small issues on a new roof, such as a lifted tab, a missed pipe boot or a loose gutter, are usually simple to fix when they are reported early. A second opinion from a [roof inspection](https://nemaroofing.com/our-services/roof-inspection/) helps when you and the installer disagree.

## Quality checks built into a NEMA Roofing replacement

On a [roof replacement](https://nemaroofing.com/our-services/roofing-replacement/) with us, ask for any of the checks above; we pull the permit and schedule the final inspection. NEMA Roofing Solutions is licensed with the CSLB (#1083283) and is listed as a GAF Master Elite contractor and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor in those manufacturers’ directories. From our five locations (Santa Barbara, Downey, Oxnard, Woodland Hills and Tarzana) we work throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties; the [San Bernardino County service area](https://nemaroofing.com/service-areas/san-bernardino-county/) page lists that part of our area. Call [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366) with questions about a new roof.