We say “free roof inspection” a lot, and we have noticed that the phrase makes some people hesitate. It sounds like it might come with a pitch, or a ladder blocking the driveway for half a day, or a report designed to scare you into a new roof. So here is exactly what happens when one of our crews comes out to a home in Snohomish, Redmond, or Bremerton, from the first phone call to the moment we hand you what we found. No surprises, and no pressure at the end.
Before We Arrive
When you call, we ask a few simple questions: how old the roof is if you know, whether you have seen any leaks or stains, and whether there is anything specific you are worried about. If a recent storm prompted the call, we note that too, because it changes where we look first.
We schedule a window that works for you. You do not have to be home, but most people like to be, and it is genuinely useful to walk the inside of the house with someone who knows where the ceilings have stained before. The visit itself usually takes somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 minutes to an hour for an average home. Larger or steeper roofs take longer.
The Ground Walk
We start where you would: on the ground, walking the full perimeter of the house. We are looking at the roof lines, the gutters and downspouts, the fascia and soffits, and the condition of anything hanging over the roof. A lot can be learned before anyone touches a ladder. Sagging gutters, peeling fascia paint, granules piled at downspout outlets, and dark streaks on the siding below a roof edge all tell part of the story.
We also note the trees. A cedar limb resting on a north slope in Lake Stevens is a roof issue, not a landscaping issue, and we will say so.
On the Roof
Next we get on the roof, if it is safe to do so. In heavy rain or on a very steep, moss-slick surface we may use a ladder at the eaves and a drone or pole camera instead, but on most days we walk it.
Up top, we check the things that cannot be seen from the ground:
- Shingle condition on every slope, not just the visible one from the street, including granule loss, cracking, lifted tabs, and nail pops
- Every penetration: plumbing vent boots, exhaust caps, skylight curbs, satellite mounts, and the chimney
- Flashing at walls, valleys, and the chimney, including the sealant and how well the metal is still seated
- Ridge caps and rake edges, which are the first places wind gets under a roof
- Valleys and low areas for debris, ponding, and wear
- Moss and algae, how established it is, and whether it has started lifting shingle edges
- Gutters from above, where the real condition is visible
We photograph what we find as we go. Those photos are yours.
The Attic, If We Can Get to It
If there is attic access and you are comfortable with it, we go up. The underside of a roof often tells the truth more clearly than the top. We look for daylight through the deck, staining around penetrations, frost or rusted nail tips, mold on the sheathing, compressed or damp insulation, bathroom fans venting into the attic instead of outside, and whether the soffit vents are actually open.
This part is optional, but we recommend it. Ventilation and moisture problems shorten a roof’s life from underneath, and they are invisible from the outside.
What You Get at the End
When we are done, we sit down with you and go through the photos. We sort what we found into three plain groups:
Needs attention now. Active leaks, failed boots, open flashing, and anything that will get worse with the next month of rain.
Worth planning for. Wear that is not urgent but should be on your radar, with an honest estimate of how much time you have.
Fine. Often the longest list. If your roof is in good shape, we will tell you it is in good shape.
If there is repair work to do, you get a written estimate that spells out the scope, the materials, and the price. If the roof is genuinely near the end of its life, we will tell you that too, with the reasoning and the photos to back it up, and we will talk through replacement options, warranties, and financing if you want to. If you do not, that is fine. The estimate is good for a while and there is no follow-up pressure.
Why We Do It for Free
An inspection costs us an hour of a trained crew member’s time. We think that is a fair investment, because most roofs we look at do not need to be replaced, and a homeowner who learns that from us tends to remember who told them the truth. When the roof eventually does need real work, they call. After 30+ years in the Puget Sound area, that is how most of our business has come to us.
Book Yours
If your roof has not been looked at in a couple of years, or if the first fall rain raised a question you would like answered, Premier Roofing NW offers free inspections and free estimates throughout the Greater Puget Sound area. Discounts are available for seniors, military, and first responders. Call us at (425) 247-0088 and we will get you on the schedule.