Roof Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before a Philadelphia Winter

Philadelphia winters are hard on roofs. It isn’t the snow so much as the cycle: a 45-degree afternoon melts it, and a 20-degree night refreezes the water in every crack, seam, and gutter. Add a couple of nor’easters and a gutter full of November leaves, and a small problem you’d never notice in October becomes a ceiling stain in January.

We’ve been fixing those January leaks since 1976. After three generations on Philly and South Jersey roofs, we can tell you most of them were visible months earlier, and that’s what this checklist is for.

Below is the same list we’d walk through with you in the fall. It covers what you can safely check yourself from the ground and the attic, plus a section just for flat roofs, which cover most rowhomes in the city.

Why fall is the best time for a roof inspection

If you only look at your roof once a year, do it between late September and mid-November. There are three reasons.

The weather still works in your favor. Shingle sealants and flat roof adhesives need mild temperatures to bond properly. A repair done in October holds better than the same repair done in a January cold snap.

Summer damage is still fresh. Hot, humid summers and thunderstorms dry out sealants, loosen flashing, and knock granules off shingles. Fall is your chance to catch that wear before freezing weather gets into it.

You beat the rush. When the first big storm hits, every roofer in the region gets the same flood of emergency calls. If you book a repair in the fall, you’re on the schedule instead of on hold.

Fall roof maintenance also means dealing with leaves. A gutter that’s clear in October can be packed solid by Thanksgiving, which is exactly when you want it flowing.

Your fall roof maintenance checklist (from the ground)

You don’t need a ladder for any of this. We’d rather you didn’t use one, because falls from roofs and ladders send thousands of homeowners to the ER every year. Grab a pair of binoculars and a flashlight, and work through the list.

Outside the house

• Shingles: Look for missing, cracked, curled, or lifted shingles, especially along edges and ridges where wind hits hardest.
• Bare or dark patches: These usually mean the shingles have lost their protective granules and are nearing the end of their life.
• Granules in gutters and downspouts: A handful of “sand” at the bottom of a downspout is a sign of aging shingles.
• Gutters: Check for clogs, sagging sections, water spilling over the sides, and downspouts pulling away from the house.
• Chimney: Look for cracked or crumbling mortar, a leaning cap, and metal flashing at the base that’s bent, rusted, or pulling away. Chimney flashing is one of the most common leak sources we repair.
• Vents and skylights: Check the seals around pipes, vents, and skylights for cracks or gaps.
• Trees: Note any branches hanging over or touching the roof. A limb that scrapes shingles in October can come through them in a January ice storm.
• Moss, algae, or dark streaks: These hold moisture against the roof surface. They’re mostly cosmetic early on, but they’re worth noting.

Inside the house

• Attic ceiling boards: On a sunny day, turn off the lights. If you see daylight coming through the roof boards, water can get in too.
• Attic insulation: Check for insulation that’s damp, matted, or discolored.
• Stains and smells: Look for water stains, dark spots on the wood, or a musty smell in the attic.
• Top-floor ceilings and walls: Check for new stains, bubbling paint, or peeling wallpaper, especially near chimneys and exterior walls.

If you find even one item, take a photo and note where it is. That makes a professional roof inspection faster and cheaper.

Flat roof maintenance checklist for Philly rowhomes

Most national checklists are written for pitched shingle roofs. In Philadelphia, a huge share of homes, from Fairmount to South Philly to Fishtown, have flat or low-slope roofs instead. They fail in different ways, so they need their own checklist.

If you can safely see your flat roof from a rear window, a roof deck, or a hatch, check these items. If you can’t, skip ahead and let a pro do it.

Ponding water and clogged drains

• Look for water still standing 48 hours after a rain. Ponding breaks down roofing material faster and adds weight.
• Check drains, scuppers, and downspout openings for leaves, dirt, and debris.
• Look for dirt rings or stains, which show where water has been sitting.

The roof surface: EPDM, TPO, or modified bitumen

• Rubber (EPDM): Look for seams peeling apart, shrinkage pulling the membrane away from edges, and punctures.
• TPO: Look for cracks, seam separation, and chalky or worn spots.
• Modified bitumen: Look for blisters, cracking, and “alligatoring,” a pattern of cracks that looks like reptile skin.
• On any material, note soft or spongy spots. Those can mean water has gotten under the membrane.

Flashing at walls and your neighbor’s roof

Rowhome roofs meet parapet walls and connect to the house next door, and those joints are where many Philly leaks start.

• Check the flashing where the roof turns up the wall for gaps, cracks, or loose edges.
• Look at the seam between your roof and your neighbor’s. A problem on their side can leak into your house.
• Check the coping or cap on top of the parapet walls for cracks and missing mortar.

Roof coating wear

• If your roof has a reflective or silver coating, look for areas that are worn through, peeling, or cracked.
• Recoating costs far less than replacement, but it only works if the roof underneath is still sound. A roofer can tell you which one you need.

Flat roof inspection: what a pro looks for

On a professional flat roof inspection, we walk the whole surface and probe seams and flashing by hand. We also check for trapped moisture and look at the roof deck from inside where we can. It’s also the best way to answer the most common question we get: how long does a flat roof last? It depends on the material, how it was installed, and how well water drains off it. A well-maintained roof can outlast a neglected one by years. Learn more about our flat roof repair and replacement services.

Signs of roof damage that mean call a roofer now

Most checklist items can wait for a scheduled inspection. These can’t. If you see any of them, call a roofer this week, not next spring.

• An active leak. Dripping water, a spreading stain, or a bulging ceiling needs attention before the next rain.
• Sagging. A roofline that dips, or a ceiling that sags, can mean the decking underneath is rotting or wet.
• Widespread shingle loss. A few missing shingles is a repair. Large bare sections leave the underlayment exposed to the weather.
• Storm damage. After high winds or a falling limb, look for torn shingles, lifted flashing, or a punctured flat roof membrane.
• Daylight in the attic. If light gets in, so will water and cold air.
• Flashing pulled away from the chimney or walls. This is a direct path for water into your walls.

If water is coming in right now, move valuables, set out buckets, and call us for a roof repair.

Winter prep: preventing ice dams and snow damage

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the roof edge. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow higher up, the water runs down, and it refreezes at the cold eaves. The meltwater backs up behind the ice and seeps under the shingles. The fix starts inside the house, not on the roof.

• Seal attic air leaks. Gaps around light fixtures, attic hatches, and plumbing stacks let warm air into the attic. Sealing them is the single biggest step.
• Check attic insulation. Enough insulation keeps the heat in your living space instead of on your roof deck.
• Keep the attic ventilated. Soffit and ridge vents keep the roof deck cold and even, so snow melts evenly instead of refreezing at the edge.
• Clear gutters before the first freeze. Clogged gutters give ice a place to build up. Need a hand? We offer gutter cleaning.
• Consider heat cables for known trouble spots. They can help on a stubborn eave or valley, but they treat the symptom rather than the cause, and they need to be installed correctly.
• Don’t chip at ice or shovel the roof yourself. It’s dangerous, and it’s an easy way to tear shingles or puncture a flat roof. Use a roof rake from the ground for light snow on pitched roofs.

Philadelphia rarely gets enough snow to threaten a sound roof. Snow load mostly matters on flat roofs with poor drainage, or when heavy wet snow sits on top of an existing problem. Keeping drains and scuppers clear is the best defense.

What a professional roof inspection includes

Your ground-level check finds the obvious problems. A professional inspection finds the ones you can’t see from the yard. Here’s what we check on a Loonstyn roof inspection:

1. The full roof surface. We walk every section to check shingle condition, granule loss, and any cracks, blisters, seams, or soft spots on a flat roof membrane.
2. All flashing. That includes chimneys, walls, vents, skylights, and valleys, the places where most leaks actually start.
3. The chimney. We check the mortar, the cap, the crown, and how well the chimney is sealed to the roof.
4. Drainage. We check the gutters, downspouts, drains, and scuppers, plus signs of ponding on flat roofs.
5. Roof decking and structure. We look for soft, sagging, or rotted areas.
6. Attic and interior. Where we can get in, we check ventilation, insulation, moisture, and the underside of the roof deck.
7. A straight answer. You get photos of what we found and a clear recommendation: leave it, repair it, or plan for replacement. No vague estimates.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a roof inspection cost in Philadelphia?

Cost depends on the size and type of roof and whether you need a written report for insurance or a home sale. Many inspections lead straight into a repair quote, so ask whether the inspection fee is credited toward the work.

How often should you get your roof inspected?

Once a year is a good rule, and fall is the best time. Also get an inspection after any major storm, before buying or selling a home, and any time you see a new stain inside. Flat roofs and roofs over 15 years old benefit most from yearly checks.

How long does a flat roof last?

With good installation and regular maintenance, a flat roof typically lasts about 15–30 years. EPDM rubber is usually on the longer end, and TPO and modified bitumen are often in the 15–25 year range. Poor drainage and skipped maintenance can cut those numbers significantly.

Is it safe to inspect my own roof?

From the ground and the attic, yes. That’s what the checklist above is designed for. We don’t recommend climbing onto a pitched roof. Walking on a flat roof can also damage the membrane if you step on weak spots, so leave on-roof inspections to a pro.

Can you repair a roof in winter?

Yes, many repairs can be done in winter, and emergency leak repairs can’t wait for spring. But some materials and adhesives bond best in mild weather. That’s one more reason to fix known problems in the fall.

Book your fall roof inspection

If this checklist turned up something, or you just want a second set of eyes before winter, we’re here. Loonstyn Roofing is a family-owned, third-generation company that has served Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and South Jersey since 1976. We’ll give you a straight answer about what your roof needs and what it doesn’t.

Call (215) 235-7000 or request your free estimate online.