Is this checklist a substitute for a roof inspection?

No — use it WITH a licensed Texas inspector. The checklist gives you a structured way to evaluate what the inspector reports, ask follow-up questions, and confirm Houston-specific items (hail history, hurricane repairs, attic ventilation) don't get glossed over.

When in the buying process should I use the checklist?

During your option period. That's when you have the right to walk away or renegotiate. Run the checklist alongside your general inspection, then use the calculator on this page to anchor any negotiation on a real replacement number.

What if the inspector says the roof is 'fine' but the checklist flags issues?

Get a roofer's second opinion — most Houston roofers will do a free walk-through for a buyer under contract. General inspectors are not roof specialists; they're trained to spot obvious failures, not nuanced end-of-life signals like granule loss patterns or step-flashing failures.

Why a Houston-specific checklist?

Houston has its own failure modes: hail corridors (Katy, Cypress, Spring), hurricane wind events, year-round high humidity that rots decking, and insurance carriers that age-cap roofs differently than other states. A generic national checklist misses all of that.

Is this checklist a substitute for a roof inspection?

No — use it WITH a licensed Texas inspector. The checklist gives you a structured way to evaluate what the inspector reports, ask follow-up questions, and confirm Houston-specific items (hail history, hurricane repairs, attic ventilation) don't get glossed over.

When in the buying process should I use the checklist?

During your option period. That's when you have the right to walk away or renegotiate. Run the checklist alongside your general inspection, then use the calculator on this page to anchor any negotiation on a real replacement number.

What if the inspector says the roof is 'fine' but the checklist flags issues?

Get a roofer's second opinion — most Houston roofers will do a free walk-through for a buyer under contract. General inspectors are not roof specialists; they're trained to spot obvious failures, not nuanced end-of-life signals like granule loss patterns or step-flashing failures.

Why a Houston-specific checklist?

Houston has its own failure modes: hail corridors (Katy, Cypress, Spring), hurricane wind events, year-round high humidity that rots decking, and insurance carriers that age-cap roofs differently than other states. A generic national checklist misses all of that.

Free · 32-point checklist · Houston edition

The Pre-Purchase Roof Checklist every Houston buyer should run.

32 items your inspector should hit before you close on a Houston-area home — with the Houston-specific failure modes (hail history, hurricane repairs, attic ventilation in 95° humidity) most general inspectors miss.

Price the listing first

Take this to the inspection

The full checklist

1. Shingles & surface

Estimated shingle age (ask seller for install date or invoice)
Granule loss — bald spots or dark patches visible from the ground
Curling, cupping, or clawing at shingle edges
Missing tabs after recent windstorms
Hail bruising — soft spots when pressed (especially on south/west slopes)
Mismatched patches indicating prior repairs
Algae streaks (cosmetic but tells you tree exposure history)

2. Flashing & penetrations

Step flashing intact where roof meets brick walls
Chimney flashing — counter-flashing tucked into mortar, not surface-caulked
Pipe boot collars — no cracking on the rubber gasket
Skylight perimeter — no daylight visible from attic
Drip edge installed along all eaves and rakes
Valley metal or woven valley laying flat (not lifting)

3. Ventilation & decking

Ridge vent (or static / turbine vents) clear and not crushed
Soffit vents not painted over or blocked by insulation
Decking firm underfoot — no soft, spongy, or bouncy spots
No visible sagging between rafters when viewed from the ground
Attic shows no daylight, no water staining on the underside of decking
No mold or musty smell in the attic

4. Gutters & drainage

Gutters firmly attached, no separation from fascia
Downspouts terminate at least 5 ft from foundation
Granules in the gutter? Some is normal; piles mean end-of-life shingles
No standing water marks on fascia indicating overflow history

5. Paperwork (ask the seller)

Original roof install invoice + manufacturer (GAF, Owens Corning, etc.)
Transferable shingle warranty paperwork
Any insurance claims filed on the roof (request a CLUE report)
Permit history with the city / county
Any past leak repairs with invoices

6. Houston-specific risk items

Hail history for the ZIP — check NOAA storm events for 2018, 2021, 2024
Hurricane / tropical storm damage repairs (Harvey, Beryl)
Tree canopy overhang (drops debris, accelerates wear)
Roof pitch — flatter pitches in Houston rain hold water at penetrations
Roof age vs. insurance company's max age (many Texas carriers cap at 20–25 years)

Realtor or inspector? You're welcome to share, print, or embed this checklist for clients. A link back to roof.day's homebuyer guide is appreciated.

Get your roof measurement

Two ways to start — upload a report you already have, or have us pull one for free.

22 sq × (1 + 10% waste) = 24.2 squares ordered.

After the inspection

Asking the seller for a roof credit (Texas scripts)What a Houston roof inspection costs