Skip to content
forebot.
Sign inBook a demo

Worn shingles, moss, streaks or new-roof looks.

A trained roofing crew should do roof work, and an experienced slate roofer should do any slate tap test.

Customers put it like this

  • granules are in the gutters
  • there is moss on my roof
  • black streaks on the roof
  • my new roof looks patchy
Prepare this job in ForeBotFind another guide

Stop first if

  • There is ice, a wet surface, frost, high wind or lightning.Stay off the roof. Log the conditions and that nobody went up.
  • The roof is slate or tile.Do not walk it. Use binoculars and the attic first.
  • The roof has just been treated for streaks.Keep off it. A treated roof is slippery.
01

Ask on the call

5

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. What are you seeing, and where on the roof?
  2. How old is the roof?
  3. Is it on shaded slopes or all over?
  4. If the roof is new, when was it installed?
  5. Has anyone pressure washed or treated it?
02

Bring

5
  • Binoculars
  • Flashlight
  • Roof plan sketch sheet
  • Phone for photos
  • Extension ladder and fall protection
03

Check on site

6
  1. Start from the ground. Note granules in gutters, curling, cracking, moss, slot tops and shaded areas.
  2. Note if wear is isolated or widespread. That frames repair against replacement.
  3. Note dark streaks that spread in a pattern. They usually point toward algae.
  4. On a new roof, look for scuffing along traffic paths, storage stains, first-season residue and lot color bands.
  5. Note where blisters sit. Blisters at cemented spots point toward workmanship, and field blisters go to the maker.
  6. Note buckles that follow boards or the panel grid, and waves from wet felt.
04

Keep on the record

4
  • Ground photos of each slope
  • Map of isolated or widespread wear
  • Install date and lot information if known
  • Past cleaning or treatment

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.