Annual Parapet Observation
For buildings with a street-facing parapet: a yearly up-close look, a written observation report, and repair of anything unsafe.
Learn moreRoof inspections in New York, NY with a written report
Before you buy a building, after a big storm, or before a board meeting, a roof inspection tells you what you have, what it needs and what to budget, in writing and with photos.
- We answer 24/7
- Written report with photos
- Flat and pitched roofs
Quick answer: A roof inspection in New York, NY covers the roof surface, seams, flashings, parapets, drains, skylights and bulkheads, with moisture readings where the roof is suspect. You get photos and a written report that separates what needs repair now from what can wait, with an estimate of the life the roof has left.
What the job involves
What an inspection actually looks at
An inspection is a walk of every part of the roof, not a look from the hatch. On a flat roof that means the membrane field, every seam and flashing, the parapets and coping, drains and scuppers, skylights, hatches and bulkheads, and the curbs under rooftop equipment.
On a pitched roof it means every slope, the valleys, the flashing at walls and chimneys, the gutters and, where there is an attic, the underside of the deck. The report sorts findings by urgency, so you know what needs fixing this season and what belongs in next year's budget.
What is included
What the inspection report covers
- Roof system, age where known, and number of layers
- Condition of the membrane or shingles across the field
- Seams and laps
- Flashing at walls, curbs, pipes and chimneys
- Parapets and coping
- Drains, scuppers, gutters and leaders
- Skylights, hatches and bulkheads
- Moisture readings where taken
- Repairs sorted into now, soon and later
Variations of the job
When owners ask for an inspection
Pre-purchase inspection
Before buying a building or a top-floor unit, an inspection tells you the roof system, its condition, the number of layers and the likely cost ahead, which can change what you offer.
After-storm inspection
After high winds or a heavy storm, every slope and edge is checked for lifted material and damage not visible from the street, with dated photos for an insurance claim.
Warranty and insurance documentation
Some membrane warranties and insurers expect periodic inspections and records. A dated report with photos gives you that paper trail when it is asked for.
Local conditions
The finding that decides the next roof
Under the New York State residential code, a new roof cannot go over one that is water-soaked or already carries two or more layers of roofing. So one of the first things an inspection records is how many layers are on the roof and whether they are dry. That single finding often decides whether the next roof can be a recover or has to be a full tear-off, and it moves the budget accordingly.
How it runs
How an inspection runs
- 1
Interior first
Top-floor ceilings, the attic and any known leak spots.
- 2
Walk the roof
Every surface, seam, flashing and drain.
- 3
Test where needed
Moisture readings and cores where the roof is suspect.
- 4
Photograph everything
Each finding located on a sketch of the roof.
- 5
Written report
Findings sorted by urgency, with options and remaining life.
Cost factors
What an inspection costs depends on
Roof size
Larger roofs take longer to walk and document.
Number of roofs
Main roof, bulkheads, extensions and garages.
Access
Hatches, ladders, and steep or tall pitched roofs.
Moisture readings
Readings and cores add time where the roof is suspect.
Report depth
A short condition summary or a full report for a board or buyer.
Timing
Rush inspections ahead of a closing date.
Do it yourself or call
Checks you can do between inspections
Safe to do yourself
- Look at top-floor ceilings and walls after heavy rain.
- From the roof hatch, check that drains are clear and water is not standing.
- Photograph the roof each spring and fall from the same spots.
- Keep a note of any new equipment put on the roof and who installed it.
Leave to a roofer
- Walking the whole roof, especially near edges without guardrails.
- Probing seams or lifting flashing.
- Judging whether the insulation under the membrane is wet.
- Climbing pitched roofs.
Questions we hear
Roof inspection questions
At least once a year, ideally in spring or fall, and after any major storm. Older roofs and roofs with a history of leaks benefit from two visits a year.
A general home inspection often views the roof from the ground or a ladder. A roofing inspection walks the roof, checks flashing and drains, and can take moisture readings.
Yes. Every finding is photographed and located on a sketch of the roof, so you can see what was found without climbing up.
It gives an honest estimate of remaining life based on condition, layers and moisture, with the caveat that weather and upkeep change the answer.
Dated photos and notes of storm damage help document a claim. Your insurer will usually still send its own adjuster.
Related services
Related roofing work
Roof Maintenance Plans
Scheduled spring and fall visits to clear drains, check seams and flashings, and fix small defects before they become ceiling leaks.
Learn moreCommercial Roofing
Retail, mixed-use and warehouse roofs repaired and replaced around your trading hours, including roofs crowded with rooftop equipment.
Learn moreNeed to know what your roof needs?
Call to book an inspection and get the findings in writing.