A roof inspection in Denver is a close look at every slope, the attic and the metal details to find hail, wind, snow and age damage before it becomes a leak. Ours is free: an Integrity Roofing and Painting inspector walks the roof, photographs each finding, and tells you whether it needs a repair, a replacement or nothing at all. To book one, use our free Denver roof inspection form; this page explains what the inspection covers.
When a Denver roof should be inspected
- After hail. Front Range storms are narrow and severe. On May 30, 2024, the National Weather Service tracked 1 to 2 inch hail, and baseball-size stones in the Northfield area, from Broomfield through Thornton and Commerce City into northern Aurora. One block can be fine while the next needs a new roof. See hail damage roof repair in Denver.
- After high wind. Denver requires replacement shingles rated for 115 to 140 mph depending on the zone, which tells you how hard wind hits the west side of the city. Lifted or creased shingles lose their seal and let wind-driven rain in.
- Before winter. Denver designs roofs for a 35 psf ground snow load and a winter design temperature of 1°F. Meltwater that refreezes at the eaves causes ice dams, and Denver code does not require ice barrier underlayment, so we check whether yours has any.
- Before you buy, sell or renew insurance. A written roof report settles questions about age and recent hail before they turn into a negotiation, and gives you something concrete to check against your policy.
- Before an HOA budget or reserve update. A per-building condition report feeds the roof line in the reserve study; see HOA roof reserve planning. Flat commercial roofs need more than a visual check; see commercial roof inspection.
What we check on a Denver roof
- Roof covering. Hail bruises, cracked tabs and granule loss on shingles; cracked, slipped or broken pieces on tile roofs; dents and loose fasteners on metal.
- Flashing. Step and headwall flashing at walls (Denver’s checklist calls for at least 4 by 4 inch pieces, counter-flashed), kick-outs at the bottom of sidewalls, and crickets behind chimneys wider than 30 inches.
- Vents and flues. Denver requires B-vent flue pipes to have a metal base, a storm collar and a vent cap in good shape. A hail-crushed cap can trap furnace or water heater exhaust inside.
- Edges and drainage. Drip edge at eaves and rakes, gutters and downspouts, and on low-slope roofs, whether water drains within 48 hours, which is how Denver’s code defines positive drainage.
- Layers and decking. Two or more existing layers mean any replacement must tear off to the deck. Soft spots on the walk tell us where decking may be failing.
- The attic. Daylight at nail holes, stains on the decking, frost or damp insulation, and how the attic is vented. Denver does not inspect venting on a reroof, but shingle manufacturers set ventilation requirements for their warranties.
Our guides explain the findings that show up most in a report, in plain language:
| Where we look | Common findings |
|---|---|
| Penetrations and walls | Pipe boots, chimneys, skylights, roof-to-wall flashing, kickouts, vents, dish mounts, solar attachments, chimney crowns |
| Shingle field and valleys | Granule loss, nail pops, blistering, valley wear, creases, high nailing, starter strip, splits, buckling, ridge caps, algae and moss, extra layers |
| Attic | Frost and condensation, fans that dump into the attic, swollen decking |
| Edges, gutters, flat sections | Fascia and drip edge, overflowing gutters, ponding, too-flat shingle roofs, membrane seams, mod-bit laps |
Our inspection versus the city’s
Our inspection tells you what condition your roof is in. The city’s inspections only happen under a roofing permit, to confirm that new work meets code; you can look up a Denver roof permit to see past ones. Under the City and County of Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist:
| Roof type | Pre-inspection (205) | Mid-roof (206) | Final (201) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One- and two-family asphalt shingles | No | If needed | Yes |
| Townhomes | Yes | If needed | Yes |
| Low-slope roofs | Yes | If needed | Yes |
| Tile and metal | No | Yes | Yes |
On tile roofs the mid-roof inspection checks underlayment, battens and flashing before more than 30 percent of the tile is laid. A failed inspection means corrections and a $100 reinspection fee, which is one reason we build to the checklist from the start. A repair needs a permit, and therefore a city inspection, once it covers more than 10 percent of the roof or two squares, whichever is smaller. More on the city rules is in our Denver roofing codes article.
What you get afterward
Dated photos of each finding, a plain-language summary, and our recommendation: a roof repair, a replacement, or no work. If the damage came from a storm and you plan to file, our Denver roof insurance claim help guide covers the Colorado rules; the claim stays yours, and our photos make sure nothing gets missed in the scope. We inspect across the metro, including Aurora, Lakewood, Centennial, Golden and Broomfield; see our Denver service areas.
We are veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, with 650+ Google reviews. Call (303) 209-0152 and we will reach out the same business day to set a time.
Sources: City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated 4/11/2024); NWS Boulder, May 2024 Climate Summary.
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