Most roof problems start small: a clogged downspout, a cracked pipe boot, a few lifted shingles after wind. A spring and fall roof maintenance check takes about an hour, and you can do nearly all of it from the ground with binoculars and from inside the attic with a flashlight. You should not need to climb onto the roof. This printable checklist covers both seasons, plus a short list for after storms and the signs that mean it is time to call a roofer.
On this page: Before you start · Spring · Fall · After storms · Call a roofer
Before you start
- Stay off the roof. Use binoculars from the yard, a window that looks over a lower roof, or photos from a phone held at arm’s length.
- If you clean gutters from a ladder, set it on firm, level ground, keep three points of contact and have someone hold it.
- Bring a flashlight for the attic and step only on the joists.
- Take dated photos of each roof slope every season. A set of “before” photos makes later damage much easier to show.
Spring checklist (after winter)
Snow, ice and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on roof edges, gutters and flashing.
Gutters and drainage
- Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves, needles and roof grit.
- Check that gutters slope toward the downspouts and that water does not pool after rain.
- Look for gutter sections bent or pulled loose by ice and snow.
- Confirm every downspout empties away from the house. On expansive or collapsible soils, the residential code adopted in Colorado (IRC R801.3) requires roof water to discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation or into an approved drainage system.
Shingles and roof edges
- Look for missing, lifted, creased or cracked shingles, especially on the windward side and along ridges.
- Look at the eaves for stains or rot on the fascia boards, which can mean ice dams backed water up over winter.
- Check the gutters and downspout outlets for granules. A few are normal; patches of bare, dark asphalt on the shingles are not.
Flashing and penetrations
- Check the rubber collars around plumbing vent pipes for cracks or gaps.
- Look at chimney, wall and skylight flashing for lifted metal or failed sealant.
Attic
- Look for water stains, dark rings around nails, or damp insulation after the first warm rains.
- Note any frost marks or mildew on the underside of the roof deck, a sign that moist indoor air is getting into the attic.
Fall checklist (before snow)
Fall is when you prepare the roof for snow load and ice. Do this after most leaves have dropped.
Gutters and trees
- Clean gutters again once the trees are bare.
- Trim branches that touch or hang over the roof.
- Re-attach downspout extensions that were moved for yard work.
Attic, air leaks and ventilation
- Ice dams start with heat. Warm air leaking from the house melts snow on the roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. Look for gaps around attic hatches, light fixtures and pipes that let warm air up.
- Check that insulation is even and not pushed against the roof at the eaves, which blocks soffit vents.
- Make sure bath fans, the dryer and the kitchen hood vent outdoors. The residential code (IRC M1501.1) does not allow exhaust into an attic, soffit, ridge vent or crawl space.
- Check that soffit and ridge or roof vents are open and not blocked by insulation, paint or nests.
Chimney and roof penetrations
- Book the chimney inspection. NFPA 211, the chimney standard the Chimney Safety Institute of America follows, calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year, and CSIA says that applies to flues serving gas furnaces too.
- Check the chimney cap, crown and flashing from the ground for cracks or missing pieces.
- Check that pipe boots and exhaust caps are still sealed before snow sits around them.
Wildfire areas
- If you live near open space or forest, clear needles and leaves off the roof, out of valleys and from the gutters. Our wildfire season checklist covers the rest.
After any hail or high wind
- From the ground, look for missing shingles and new dents in gutters, downspouts and metal vents.
- Check ceilings and the attic for drips after the next rain.
- Photograph anything new with the date.
- If you think hail hit the roof, work through our after-hail checklist before calling anyone who knocks on your door.
When to call a roofer
- A stain on a ceiling or in the attic that grows after rain.
- Missing shingles, or shingles you can see lifting in wind.
- Bare asphalt patches or widespread cracking on shingles.
- Sagging lines in the roof, or soft spots you can see from below in the attic.
- Ice dams that form every winter in the same place.
- Flashing that has pulled away from a wall or chimney.
Our roof leak repair page explains how we trace leaks, and our guide to how often a roof should be inspected covers professional inspections. Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews, with offices in Colorado Springs, Denver and Austin. Call (719) 488-2800 for a free Colorado Springs inspection, (303) 209-0152 for a free Denver inspection, or (512) 610-5897 for a free Austin inspection.
More homeowner checklists: After a hailstorm in Colorado · Reading your scope of loss · Hiring a roofer in Colorado and Texas
Sources: IRC 2021 section R801.3, roof drainage (Colorado DFPC adoption, UpCodes); IRC 2021 section M1501.1, outdoor discharge; Building Science Corporation, BSI-046: Dam Ice Dam; Chimney Safety Institute of America, Homeowner resources (NFPA 211 annual inspection); IBHS, Is it hail damage? (weathering granule loss); Colorado State Forest Service, Protect your home and property from wildfire.
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