What does a roofer look for on a Calgary roof inspection?

A thorough roof inspection in Calgary covers more ground than most homeowners expect, because local conditions add several failure points that roofers in milder climates rarely see.

What a roofer checks, and why it matters here

The shingles and surface material come first. The roofer looks for cracked, curled, cupped or missing shingles, granule loss in the eavestroughs or on the ground, and the circular bruising or soft spots that hail leaves behind. After Calgary's hail seasons, that bruising can be subtle on newer shingles and easy to miss from the ground, which is why a close-up inspection matters.

Flashings and penetrations are where most leaks start. The roofer checks the metal at every valley, chimney, skylight, plumbing stack and roof-to-wall joint. Flashings that have lifted, cracked or lost their sealant let water in long before a shingle fails. Vent boots, in particular, crack in Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles and are a common source of slow leaks.

Eave protection and underlayment are inspected where visible, usually at the eaves and rakes. The National Building Code requires eave protection extending at least 900 mm up the slope, to a line at least 300 mm inside the inner face of the exterior wall. In Calgary's climate, with roughly 128 freeze-thaw cycles a year, this layer is the last line of defence against ice-dam water backing up under shingles.

The roof deck is assessed for soft spots, bounce or visible rot. A roofer walking the surface can feel delaminated or saturated sheathing that looks fine from below. If the deck is compromised, the cost of replacement sheathing (roughly $2 to $4 per square foot, usually priced per sheet beyond an included allowance) should appear in any quote.

Attic conditions matter as much as the exterior. The roofer, or a separate attic check, looks for water stains, frost deposits, daylight through the deck, and whether ventilation is adequate. The code requires vent area of at least 1/300 of the insulated ceiling area, with at least 25% at the top and 25% at the bottom. Poor ventilation is the leading cause of ice dams and premature shingle failure in Calgary, and replacing shingles without fixing it just repeats the problem.

Drainage and eavestroughs round out the inspection. Blocked or sagging eavestroughs back water up at the eave, accelerating ice-dam damage. The roofer checks that water drains freely and that downspouts direct it away from the foundation.

What the inspection report should include

A useful report documents every deficiency with photos, notes the age and approximate remaining life of the roof, flags any hail or wind damage relevant to an insurance claim, and identifies whether the work needed is a repair or a full replacement. An insurance-grade report with measurements typically costs $450 to $700; many roofers provide a basic inspection free when quoting a replacement.

A note on doing your own check

You can safely look over the roof from the ground with binoculars, check the attic for stains or frost, and clear debris from eavestroughs from a properly footed ladder. Alberta's OHS Code requires fall protection for anyone working at 3 metres or more above the level below, so leave the roof surface itself to the roofer.

If your roof is due for that kind of check, local roofers can book an inspection through our free form.