Just Got a New Roof? How to Tell If It Was Installed Right

A roof replacement usually wraps up in a day or two. At that point, the only people who have looked closely at the finished work are the crew that installed it. Most new roofs are installed well, but installation mistakes happen, and they can be expensive later, so it is worth knowing what to look for.

What you can check from the ground

You do not need to climb a ladder to spot some warning signs. Walk the perimeter of the house and look for:

• Shingle rows that wander, dip, or look uneven when you sight down a slope
• Shingles that are lifted, curled, or not lying flat right after installation
• Edges where the drip edge is missing, bent, or not continuous along the eaves and rakes
• Old flashing or mismatched metal left in place around chimneys or walls
• Nails, shingle scraps, or wrappers left in the yard, beds, or gutters
• Dents or scrapes on gutters, downspouts, siding, or AC units that were not there before

The most common roof installation mistakes

The problems that matter most are usually the ones you cannot see from the driveway:

• Flashing at walls, chimneys, and valleys that was reused, skipped, or improperly lapped, a frequent source of leaks
• Pipe boots and vents that were not replaced or sealed correctly
• Missing or misaligned starter course along the eaves, which can let wind get under the first row
• Shingle exposure that drifts from the manufacturer's specification
• Ventilation that was changed or blocked during the replacement, such as a ridge vent cut too short or intake vents covered
• Exposed fasteners or high nails that can back out over time

What an independent post-install inspection covers

A post-install quality inspection is a slope-by-slope review of the finished roof by someone who did not install it. The inspector documents visible installation details such as alignment, exposure, the starter course, drip edge, flashing, pipe boots, vents, and ventilation, and checks for debris or damage left behind. Some details, like the nailing on every shingle, are covered by the courses above them, so a good inspector documents what is visible without damaging your new roof. The result is a written report with dated, labeled photos, delivered to you.

Why not just ask the roofer to check?

A company checking its own work has an obvious conflict, even when it is acting in good faith. An independent inspector is paid only for the inspection, has no stake in the job, and documents what is there either way. If the installation looks right, the report says so.

What it costs in Dallas-Fort Worth

A True Roof new roof installation inspection is $250 for single-story homes and $350 for two-story homes, the same as our other inspections. A $50 deposit reserves your date and is applied toward the total, and the written report is delivered within 24 hours of the inspection.