Before a Connecticut winter, the parts of a roof that matter most are the shingles, the flashing around chimneys and vents, the gutters and downspouts, and the attic underneath, where ventilation and insulation decide whether ice dams form. Fall is the time to look, while the weather is dry and there is still time to get repairs done. The roof and attic are part of every home inspection I do, but repairs, replacements and detailed roofing work belong to a licensed roofing contractor.
Our winters are hard on roofs. Heavy snow, ice dams, freeze-thaw cycles and the occasional nor'easter all go looking for the weakest spot. By the time you see water on a ceiling in January, the damage above has usually been building for weeks.
I inspect homes across Suffield, Enfield, Granby, East Granby, Windsor, Simsbury, Farmington, Avon, Manchester and the rest of the Hartford area. The houses that come through winter without trouble have one thing in common: someone noticed the small issues in the fall, before they turned into emergencies.
September and early October are a good window. Leaves haven't all fallen, the weather is usually dry, and roofers still have time on their calendars before the snow.
You don't need to climb a ladder to spot most early warning signs. A pair of binoculars and a walk around the house will tell you a lot.
From the ground, look for:
An older asphalt roof showing several of these signs is telling you to start planning for a replacement. A roofer can tell you how much life is left.
This is where most leaks start. Every opening through the roof is a possible failure point:
Clear gutters that drain toward the downspouts carry snowmelt away from the roof edge and the foundation. Make sure downspouts discharge well away from the house, look for sections bent or pulled loose by last winter's ice, and clean the gutters in early fall and again after the leaves drop.
This is the part most people never think about, and it is the biggest factor in ice dams. When warm air from the house leaks into a poorly ventilated or under-insulated attic, it warms the underside of the roof. Snow melts, runs down to the cold eaves, refreezes and forms an ice dam. Water then backs up under the shingles and into the house.
A healthy attic has intake vents at the soffits that aren't blocked by insulation, exhaust ventilation at the ridge or gables, enough insulation on the attic floor, and bathroom and dryer vents that discharge outside rather than into the attic.
If you can safely get into your attic, take a flashlight and look for:
A roof can look fine from the outside and still be failing from underneath. Both views matter.
The roof is one of the most costly and important parts of any house, so it is part of every home inspection. During the inspection I examine the roof structure, shingles, flashing, gutters and downspouts, then go into the attic to check ventilation, insulation, and signs of moisture or mold. Thermal imaging is included with every inspection, which helps find moisture behind ceilings and walls that hasn't shown up as a stain yet.
If part of the roof can't be reached safely, such as a very steep roof, I'll explain that and note it in the report. You get a digital report with photos the same day.
Homeowners who aren't buying or selling can book an annual home inspection to get the same look at the roof and attic along with the rest of the house.
A home inspection tells you what condition the roof is in and what needs attention. For anything beyond that, hire a licensed roofing contractor. That includes:
If you're buying a home and the inspection report flags the roof, a roofer's evaluation and estimate before closing gives you solid numbers to negotiate with.
Call a roofer promptly if you see:
Small roof problems caught in the fall are almost always cheaper to fix than the water damage they cause in midwinter.
Late summer through mid-fall is ideal, before the leaves are all down and before the first hard freeze. That leaves time to get any repairs scheduled before snow.
Yes. The roof structure, shingles, flashing, gutters and downspouts are part of every home inspection, along with the attic, ventilation and insulation underneath. Areas that can't be reached safely are noted in the report.
Warm air escaping into the attic melts snow on the roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. Poor attic ventilation and missing insulation are the usual causes, which is why the attic matters as much as the shingles.
A licensed roofing contractor. A home inspection identifies the problems; a roofer repairs them and can estimate the remaining life of the roof.
It's worth a look, especially on an older roof. The most expensive damage often starts in places you can't see from the ground, like flashing, vent boots and the attic.
Want a full look at your roof, attic and the rest of the house before winter? Schedule a home inspection or call Jim Angell at (860) 402-6644. You'll get a same-day digital report with photos and thermal imaging, the InterNACHI Honor Guarantee, and a Certified Master Inspector on every job. See all home inspection services.
Angell Home Inspection Services is just a click or phone call away. Schedule your inspection now.