Roof Inspections for Philadelphia Homes and Buyers
A home inspector usually looks at the roof from the ground or a ladder. A roofer walks it, checks the attic, probes the flat sections and tells you what it will need and when.
A roof inspection in Philadelphia covers the roof surface, flashing, drains, gutters and the attic or deck underneath, and published figures put it at $125 to $350. You get dated photos and a written report of what we found, what needs doing now, and what can wait, whether you are buying, checking after a storm, or maintaining a flat roof.
What a Roofer Sees That Others Miss
Most roof problems live in the details: a cracked pipe boot, a lifted seam, soft decking by the chimney, a second layer hidden under the first. Those are hard to judge from a ladder at the edge.
We walk the roof where it is safe to, check the attic or the underside of the deck, count the layers, and look at the drainage. The report separates what is failing now from normal aging, so you can plan instead of guess.
What a Roof Inspection Covers
The report walks through each of these, with photos.
- Roof covering condition and age
- Number of layers on the roof
- Flashing at walls, chimneys and vents
- Pipe boots and penetrations
- Seams and edges on flat sections
- Drains, scuppers and gutters
- Parapets and coping
- Attic or deck underside for stains
- Ventilation and signs of moisture
How a Roof Inspection Runs
- 1
Book the visit
Tell us why: purchase, storm or maintenance.
- 2
Walk the roof
Surface, flashing, seams and edges checked.
- 3
Check underneath
Attic or deck underside inspected.
- 4
Photograph findings
Dated photos of every issue.
- 5
Write the report
Now, soon and later items, with pricing.
- 6
Talk it through
We answer questions on the findings.
Pre-Purchase Roof Inspection
Before you buy, you want to know how old the roof really is, how many layers it carries, and whether it needs work in the next few years. We walk the roof, check the attic or the underside of the deck, and core a flat roof where the seller allows it. The written report estimates the remaining life in plain terms and prices any needed repairs, so you can negotiate with real numbers during your contingency or budget for them after closing.
Storm Damage Inspection
After high winds or hail, damage is often invisible from the street. We check every slope and edge for lifted or creased shingles, hail bruising, dented metal, peeled membrane edges and impact damage, and photograph what we find with the date. The report separates storm damage from ordinary wear, which matters a great deal if you later decide to file an insurance claim. If an opening needs protection, we tarp or patch it before we leave so nothing gets worse while you decide.
Annual Flat Roof Inspection
Flat roofs fail at seams, drains and parapets, and small problems there are cheap to fix and expensive to ignore. A yearly inspection, ideally in the fall before winter, checks seams and flashing, clears drains and scuppers, looks for blisters and ponding, and notes the coating's condition. Rowhome owners who keep a yearly record also have an easier time when they sell, because the buyer and their inspector can see exactly how the roof has been cared for over the years.
What We See on Philadelphia Roofs
Around Oxford Circle a single block can hold late-1920s rowhouses next to 1950s homes, and 1960s rows line Roosevelt Boulevard, so two houses a few doors apart can have roofs of very different ages and build. Most city rowhome roofs run 10 to 15 squares, small enough that a thorough inspection covers every seam and flashing rather than a sample.
Buying a house with an older roof?
Call and we inspect it before your contingency runs out.
How Long an Inspection Takes
Most rowhome and twin inspections take about an hour on site, longer for large or steep roofs or when a flat roof is cored. The written report with photos follows shortly after. For a home purchase, book it early in the inspection window so any repair pricing is in hand before your contingency deadline.
What Sets the Price of an Inspection
- Roof size and pitchSteep and large roofs take longer.
- Roof typesMixed flat and pitched sections add time.
- Core cutsCounting layers on a flat roof adds a step.
- AccessTall roofs and missing hatches need setup.
- Report detailRepair pricing for a purchase adds work.
Published Philadelphia figures put a roof inspection at $125 to $350. That is a planning range, not our quote.
Roof Inspection Questions
It is a good start. A roofer walks the roof and checks details a general inspection often cannot reach.
Once a year for flat roofs, every few years for pitched ones, and after any major storm.
We can estimate it from the materials, wear and layers, and say how much life it likely has left.
Yes, when the roof is safe to walk. Snow cover can hide some issues.
No. The report says what the roof needs, which is often repair or nothing at all.
More Inspection & Maintenance Work in Philadelphia
From our guides: Repair or Replace Your Roof?
Know What Your Roof Needs
Call to book an inspection. You get photos and a plain report of what to fix and when.