---
title: "Roof inspection checklist"
description: "A roof inspection checklist for spring and fall, covering the membrane, flashing, edges, drainage, penetrations, and signs of leaks inside the building."
---

1. [Templates](/templates/)

# Roof inspection checklist

A roof inspection checklist for spring and fall, covering the membrane, flashing, edges, drainage, penetrations, and signs of leaks inside the building.

[Download CSV](/templates/roof-inspection-checklist/roof-inspection-checklist.csv)

- Or [start on the free plan](https://app.fixahead.com/signup), no card.

- A signed-in owner or manager uploads this file in FixAhead, and it loads as one procedure per frequency.

## Semiannual

| Task | Required | Photo required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Before | | |
| Review past reports and photographs. |  | |
| Before walking the roof, set up fall protection at any low-slope edge: a guardrail, net, restraint, or arrest system. | Yes | |
| General | | |
| Remove debris and trash from the roof. | Yes | |
| Check for ponding and poor drainage. Photograph any ponding, so later inspections can compare. | Yes | |
| Note any new additions, changes, or equipment on the roof. Photograph any new addition. |  | |
| Membrane | | |
| Check the membrane for damage, punctures, bare spots in the coating or gravel, and granule loss. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Check for blisters, fishmouths, alligatoring, splits, ridging, loose laps, slippage, detachment, and fastener problems. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Sloped roof | | |
| On sloped roofs, check shingles for buckling, curling, missing tabs, and granule loss. Check metal for corrosion and fasteners. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Flashing | | |
| Check metal flashing for rust, open laps, attachment to the wall or curb, and popped fasteners. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Check non-metal flashing for open laps, sagging or separation, blistering, and wrinkling. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Edges | | |
| Check roof edges for rust, splits at metal joints, and fascia or gravel stops that are not secure. Check that the soffit is sound. | Yes | |
| Parapets | | |
| Check parapet mortar joints, cracks, spalling, coping, and caulking. Photograph each defect. | Yes | |
| Expansion joints | | |
| Check that expansion-joint covers are secure, with no open laps or deteriorated membrane. | Yes | |
| Drainage | | |
| Check that drains are free of clogging and damming, clamping rings are secure, and gutters, scuppers, and downspouts are clean and undamaged. | Yes | |
| Penetrations | | |
| Check that pitch pans, soil stacks, chimneys, and vents are sound. | Yes | |
| Equipment | | |
| Check rooftop equipment, its supports and curb, and any equipment that affects watertightness. | Yes | |
| Check that skylights, smoke hatches, and roof hatches are sound. | Yes | |
| Check walkway treads for wear from foot traffic. Check for contaminants discharged onto the roof. |  | |
| Safety equipment | | |
| Check that fall-arrest anchors and control-zone access are in place. | Yes | |
| Insulation | | |
| Check for soft or spongy areas in the insulation. | Yes | |
| Interior | | |
| Check ceilings and walls for water stains or leaks, and the underside of the deck for rust, rot, sagging, or water entry. Photograph any stain. | Yes | |
| Site | | |
| Trim overhanging branches. |  | |
| Close-out | | |
| Record the conditions in writing with photographs, and mark leaks and ponding on a roof plan. | Yes | Yes |
| Send repairs beyond routine upkeep to a roofing contractor. Send warranted roofs to the installing contractor. | Yes | |

Local rules govern where they set more than this list.