How to Read Your Roof Inspection Report

Reading Time: 5 minutes

(We’ll tell you if you don’t need a roof replacement! That’s the honest truth)

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If you are thinking about a roof replacement or roof repair, you’ll want to get a comprehensive report on your current roof’s condition. You’ll want to know if there is still life in it–and therefore only need a repair or if things are to the point of no return and a roof replacement is in order.

The next step is to schedule 2-3 local roofers to come out and inspect it. A good roofer will give you a report afterwards that walks you through what they found and what it means about the health of your roof.

Are you sure you’re looking at a real problem or a sales pitch dressed up as one? Because reading the report correctly is how you catch the difference before it becomes a leak.

At Campo Roof, our inspection is a free, 25-point checklist report— of your home inside and out. Below is exactly what we look at, and what each finding means for you.

Key Takeaways

• A real inspection covers the roof and the attic. Half the story is up top; the other half is what’s happening underneath.
• A report should flag three things: current damage, age-related wear, and future risk. They are not the same, and they don’t all need fixing today.
• Most leaks don’t start in the field of shingles. They start where things meet — flashing, valleys, pipe boots, chimneys.
• Who reads the report to you matters as much as what it says. Make sure it’s not by a salesperson on commission.

What’s Actually Checked in a 25-Point Inspection

A good inspection isn’t one glance from the driveway. Campo’s 25 point inspection reports are grouped into five areas. Here’s what each one is really looking for.

Attic and Insulation

We start inside, because the attic tells on the roof before the ceiling does.

1. Moisture or water stains on the decking
2. Proper intake ventilation (soffit vents)
3. Proper exhaust ventilation (ridge or box vents)
4. Mold or mildew
5. Bath exhaust fans actually venting where they should
6. Structural integrity of the existing roof deck

Trapped moisture and bad ventilation don’t announce themselves from the curb. They show up as a stain on your ceiling six months later. Catching them in the attic is how you avoid that.

Shingle Health

This is the part most people picture when they think “inspection.”

1. Missing or broken shingles
2. Curling or lifting shingles
3. Weather-related damage
4. Granule loss (a sign of aging)
5. Blistering, warping, or heat damage

One worn area is not the same as a failed roof. The point of this section is to separate normal aging from genuine trouble.

Roof System Components

The parts that decide whether your roof actually keeps water out.

1. Single or multiple roof layers
2. Starter strip installed and sealed correctly
3. Ice and water shield in the vulnerable spots
4. Valleys installed for positive drainage off the roof
5. Drip edge installed and doing its job
6. Flashing — step, apron, and kickout

If any of these were skipped or done cheap on the original install, this is where it shows up.

Roof Penetrations

Every hole in your roof is a place it can leak. These are the usual suspects.

1. Pipe boots — cracks, wear, or deterioration
2. Bathroom and kitchen vent seals
3. Skylight flashing and sealant
4. Chimney flashing — step, counter, and cricket
5. Chimney cap or rain guard — rust, gaps, or damage

Roofs fail where things meet, not in the middle of a field of shingles. A cracked pipe boot is cheap to fix and expensive to ignore.

Ventilation and Accessories

The edges and the surroundings that quietly shorten a roof’s life.

1. Gutter attachment and drainage flow
2. Fascia board and trim near the roof edge
3. Overhanging trees, debris, or animal intrusion risks

None of these make a dramatic photo. All of them end up on a real report.

What the Grades Actually Mean

Twenty-five checkmarks are useless if you can’t read them. Sort what you’re looking at into three piles:

• Fix now. Active leaks, exposed decking, failed flashing, large sections genuinely worn out.
• Watch this. Aging but functional. We’ll note it, photograph it, check it next year.
• You’re fine. Cosmetic or normal wear that a salesperson on commission might inflate into an emergency.

If the report says “watch this” but the recommendation says “replace,” that gap is the conversation to have before you sign anything. A good roofer will tell you when you don’t need a new roof.

What Your Warranty Actually Covers

Two roofs can pass the same inspection and be worlds apart on paper. The difference is the warranty — and there are really two layers to understand.

Campo’s installation guarantee. Every Campo roof comes with our 25-Year Leak Free Guarantee. If your roof leaks, that’s on us, and we stand behind the workmanship and the GAF materials that go into it. Be wary of companies waving around 50-year leak guarantees — read the fine print and you’ll usually find the loopholes that make the number meaningless. We only promise what we can actually deliver.

The GAF manufacturer warranty. Separate from our guarantee, GAF backs the roof at the manufacturer level — and which warranty you qualify for depends on your contractor’s certification:

• The GAF Golden Pledge Limited Warranty covers up to 30 years of workmanship depending on the shingle. Only GAF Master Elite contractors, including Campo, can offer it.

The difference is real money. A standard contractor warranty is only as good as the contractor still being in business. A GAF-backed warranty is backed by the manufacturer, covers tear-off and disposal, and transfers to the next owner if you sell. Read the warranty section of any quote as carefully as the price.

Inspections, Insurance, and Seasons

Your inspection report is also your insurance paperwork. Photos, checklist results, and dated notes on storm damage are exactly what a carrier wants to see when you file a claim, so keep them.

A few honest rules of thumb for Ohio:

• Get a real inspection once a year, and again after any serious storm.
• Our freeze-thaw cycle is hard on flat sections and the roof surface specifically, so don’t skip a year because last year looked fine.
• Do it before the season changes, not in the middle of the emergency.

The Bottom Line

A roof inspection report is a tool, not a verdict. Read the grades, look at the photos, and separate “fix now” from “watch this” from “you’re fine.” If the report and the recommendation don’t match, ask why.

Campo Roof has served Northeast Ohio since 1978. We’re a three-star GAF President’s Club Elite contractor and our 25-point inspection is “On The House” and covers your roof inside and out. Best of all, we’ll tell you when you don’t need a new roof.

Want a free 25-point inspection and an honest read on the results? Call Campo Roof at 330-425-1285 or request an estimate online.

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Additional Resources

• GAF Homeowner Storm Damage Guide — comprehensive education on storm response, inspection, and recovery from North America’s largest roofing manufacturer.
• GAF Contractor Finder — verify any contractor’s GAF certification status.
• FEMA Disaster Resources — federal guidance on storm recovery and temporary roofing.
• FTC Consumer Alerts on Storm Scams — official warnings on post-disaster repair fraud.