Fall Roof Inspection Checklist for Homeowners

Dallastown Roofing & Contracting | Serving Dallastown, York, East York, Dover, Red Lion, New Freedom & York County, PA since 1972

Fall is the most important season to inspect your roof, and October is the ideal time to do it.

Pennsylvania winters are hard on roofs. Ice dams, heavy snow, freeze-thaw cycles and wind-driven rain all find the small weak spots. Catch problems in October and you have time to make repairs before the first freeze. Wait until January and you could be dealing with an emergency repair in the worst possible conditions.

The good news: you can do a useful first inspection from the ground and from inside your attic. You don't need to climb on the roof to spot the warning signs. Here's your October checklist.

Part 1: From the Ground

Walk around the outside of your home, with binoculars if you have them. Here's what to look for.

Shingles

• Missing shingles: bare spots or exposed decking
• Curling shingles: edges lifting or corners cupping upward
• Buckling shingles: waves or ripples across the surface
• Cracked or brittle shingles: especially common on older asphalt roofs
• Granule loss: bald patches mean the shingles are wearing out

Flashing

Flashing is the metal that seals the joints around chimneys, vents and skylights, and where the roof meets a wall. It's one of the most common sources of roof leaks.

• Look for rust, gaps, or flashing pulling away from the surface
• Check where the chimney meets the roof. Flashing failure here is one of the top causes of leaks in York County homes
• Look at the step flashing along any dormer walls

Gutters and downspouts

• Are the gutters pulling away from the fascia?
• Are there lots of shingle granules in the gutters? That's a sign your shingles are aging.
• Do the downspouts carry water at least 4 to 6 feet away from the foundation?
• Are there gaps between gutter sections?

Soffit and fascia

• Any rot, discoloration or peeling paint on the soffit and fascia boards?
• Any gaps where the soffit meets the roof edge? Those let in pests and moisture.

Valleys

Valleys, where two roof slopes meet, carry more water than any other part of the roof. Look for:

• Missing or worn valley flashing
• Leaves and debris that could dam the water
• Shingle wear concentrated in the valley

Part 2: In the Attic

This is often the most telling part of the inspection. Grab a flashlight and head up.

• Daylight: if you can see daylight through the roof deck, water can get through too.
• Water stains: look for dark stains or water marks on the underside of the roof deck and along the rafters. Active moisture or mold is a serious warning.
• Insulation: wet, compressed or matted insulation stops insulating, encourages mold, and tells you water has been getting in.
• Ventilation: make sure the soffit vents aren't blocked and the ridge vent (if you have one) is clear. Good attic ventilation matters in Pennsylvania. Trapped summer heat and trapped winter moisture both wear shingles out from the inside.

Part 3: Inside Your Home

Sometimes the roof tells you something's wrong from inside the house.

• Water stains on ceilings, especially near outside walls, chimneys or skylights
• Peeling paint on ceilings or walls, particularly upstairs
• A musty smell upstairs or in the attic, which means moisture even when you can't see a stain

Common Fall Roof Problems in York County

Chimney flashing failures. Pennsylvania's swing from summer heat to winter cold loosens flashing sealant over time. Resealing or replacing chimney flashing before winter is one of the best-value repairs you can make.

Shingles nearing the end of their life. Most asphalt shingles are rated for 20 to 30 years, so many homes built in the 1990s and early 2000s are hitting that window now. If your shingles are 20+ years old and showing granule loss, brittleness or curling, it's time for an inspection before winter.

Water from clogged gutters. Clogged or failing gutters push water back under the shingles and behind the fascia. Clean your gutters once the leaves are down, ideally late October or early November, and check that every section slopes toward a downspout.

Leftover summer storm damage. York County sees its share of summer hail and wind, and the damage isn't always visible from the ground. If you had a big storm this summer and nobody has looked at the roof since, October is the time. See our storm damage page for what to look for.

When to Call a Professional

The checks above will catch the obvious problems. Others, like flashing gaps, soft spots in the decking and subtly lifting shingles, only show up close. If you find any of these, call a roofer before the first freeze:

• Missing or visibly damaged shingles
• Any sign of moisture in the attic
• Daylight through the roof deck
• Gaps or separation in the flashing around the chimney or dormers
• Shingles that are 20+ years old and showing real wear

A roof inspection from Dallastown Roofing & Contracting is thorough, honest and no-pressure. We'll tell you what we see, what needs attention now and what can wait.

Schedule Your Fall Roof Inspection

We've been roofing homes across York County since 1972. The best time to call is now, while the weather still cooperates and there's time to make repairs before winter.

Don't wait for a ceiling stain to tell you there's a problem. Call 717-246-3198 or request a free estimate.