A wet-season check looks at the parts that let water in: the gutters, the moss on shaded slopes, the shingle edges, the flashing and the attic. This checklist sets out what to look at, what to photograph and when to call a roofer. It states no rainfall figure, because the sources did not retrieve one.
Key takeaways
- Start with the gutters and downspouts, since they carry the whole roof's water away from the walls.
- Look at the moss on shaded slopes and the tabs under it, because moss lifts shingles so water gets under them.
- Check the flashing at each wall, chimney and vent, where wet weather finds the joints.
- Check the attic for damp, staining and daylight after each rain in the first wet weeks.
- Photograph each part with the date visible and keep the photographs with the roof file.
Step one: the gutters and downspouts
From the ground, check that each run falls to its downspout, that the outlets are clear and that each downspout discharges clear of the wall.
A run that holds water at one spot will spill there in a heavy rain. Clear the outlets by hand from a stable ladder, or ask a roofer to do it, and note the dates.
Check the brackets and the fascia behind the run for sags and staining.
- Each run falls to its downspout
- Outlets clear of moss and leaves
- Downspouts discharge clear of the wall
Step two: moss on the shaded slopes
Look for moss on the north and under-tree slopes, and for shingles lifted under the mat.
Moss holds water against the covering. A lifted tab under the moss is the repair that matters most, and it is found by a roofer lifting a sample after the moss is cleared by hand.
Do not pressure wash. Note where the moss sits, so the roofer can plan the cleaning.
- Moss on the north and shaded slopes
- Lifted tabs under the moss
- No pressure washing
Step three: the shingle edges and the flashing
Look at the lower edges of the tabs and at the flashing at each wall, chimney and vent.
A tab that stands up at its lower edge has lost its bond. Flashing that is bent or pulled from the wall is a leak waiting for a wet spell.
Photograph each one from the ground, with the position noted.
- Tabs lifted at the lower edge
- Flashing bent or pulled from walls
- Each finding photographed with its position
Step four: the attic
After each of the first rains, check the attic for damp, staining and daylight.
A stain on the underside of the decking, a wet insulation patch or daylight at a joint is the first sign of water getting through. Note the date and the position, and call a roofer if a stain grows.
Keep a torch in the attic and do not stand under a sagging area.
- Damp or dark staining on the decking
- Wet insulation
- Daylight at a joint
Step five: what to keep and when to call
Keep dated photographs and notes, and call a roofer when any finding is open, wet or growing.
Call a roofer for an open area, a sag, a stain that grows or a tab that will not lie flat. Keep the checklist, the photographs and the roofer's written findings in the roof file, so each season adds to the record.
- Open areas, sags or growing stains called in
- The checklist kept with the photographs
- A dated note each season
Scheduling the checks across the season
Do the first full check before the heaviest weeks, a short check after each large storm, and a final check when the wet weather ends.
The first full check finds the open items while there is time to book repairs. A short check after each large storm catches new damage while it is easy to link to the storm. The final check, when the wet weather ends, records what the season did to the roof, and it becomes the starting point for the next year.
- A full check before the heaviest weeks
- A short check after each large storm
- A final check when the wet weather ends
What to put in the photograph set
Each slope from the ground, each flashing and gutter run close up, the attic from the hatch, and any stain with its edge marked and dated.
A photograph set is more useful when it is consistent. Take the same views each time, from the same positions, with the date visible. Mark the edge of any stain with a pencil and the date, so a later photograph can show whether it has grown.
- The same views each time
- Close shots of each flashing and gutter run
- Stains marked with the date
How long the checklist takes
A full check takes a homeowner an hour from the ground and the attic, and a roofer's visit takes longer for the parts that need the roof walked.
The homeowner's checklist is a ground and attic look, which can be done in an hour when the access is clear. The roofer's visit covers what needs a walk of the roof, and it is booked where the checklist shows a finding that cannot be judged from below.
- About an hour from the ground and attic
- A roofer's visit for anything that needs a walk
- Booked where the checklist shows a finding
Keeping the gutter check and the roof check apart
The gutter check is for the homeowner from the ground; the roof check is for a roofer on the roof. Mixing them leaves each one half done.
The homeowner's gutter check looks at fall, outlets and fixings from the ground. It does not replace a roofer's look at the covering, the flashing and the valleys, which needs a walk of the roof. Keeping the two apart means each is done properly and each finding is booked to the right person.
- Gutter check from the ground by the homeowner
- Roof check on the roof by a roofer
- Each finding booked to the right person
What a clear checklist prevents
A missed opening, a growing stain left for a month and a sag that is found only when it has spread.
Most wet-season damage that gets worse is damage that was seen once and not written down. A checklist kept with dates prevents that, because each open item carries forward to the next check until it is closed. The list is the memory the season does not keep.
- Items carried forward until closed
- A stain seen once is watched again
- Dated entries prevent a missed follow-up
A worked example of the first season check
A homeowner in a shaded house starts the first check in the autumn, finds two lifted tabs and a stain, and books the repair before the first heavy weeks.
Take a shaded house with a north slope. The autumn check finds two tabs lifted at the lower edge under a patch of moss, and a stain on the ceiling line below the chimney. The homeowner photographs both, dates them, and books a roofer's visit. The tabs are re-sealed after the moss is cleared, and the chimney flashing is reset. The next check finds the stain has not grown, and the record shows it closed.
- Two tabs and a stain found in autumn
- Moss cleared, tabs re-sealed, flashing reset
- The next check shows the stain has not grown
What to do with a finding that is not urgent
Write it down with its date and the reason it is not urgent, and check it again at the next check, so it is not forgotten.
Not every finding is an emergency. A small lift in a shaded corner that is not growing can wait for a dry window. Write it with the date and the reason it can wait, and put it at the top of the next check. A deferred item that is written down is a managed item; one that is not written down is a forgotten one.
- Record the finding and why it can wait
- Put it at the top of the next check
- A deferred item is managed, not forgotten
Who to tell about each finding
The roofer for anything on the roof, the insurer for anything that may be a claim, and the family for anything that changes how the house is used.
Each finding has an audience. Anything on the covering, the flashing or the gutter goes to the roofer. Anything that may be a storm loss goes to the insurer, after the record is made. Anything that changes how a room can be used, such as a wet ceiling, is also reported to the people who live there, so the room is kept clear.
- Roofer for anything on the roof
- Insurer for anything that may be a claim
- Household for any room that must be kept clear
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the roof before the rain starts?
Yes, from the ground, so that any open item can be booked before the wet weather arrives.
Is a gutter check enough?
No. A gutter check is one part. The moss, the flashing and the attic are the others.
Can I walk the roof to check it?
Not safely, especially when wet or mossy. Check from the ground and the attic, and let the roofer walk it.
What if I find a stain after rain?
Mark its edge with a pencil and the date, watch whether it grows, and call a roofer.
Sources
This guide is general information for Washington County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.