Spring Roof Inspection Checklist for Vermont Homeowners
Vermont winters are hard on roofs. By the time the snow melts and mud season rolls in, your roof has been through heavy snow loads, ice dams, and dozens of freeze-thaw cycles. Spring is the ideal time to check for damage while it's still easy and inexpensive to address.
This checklist covers what to look for outside, in your attic, and inside your home and what to do if something doesn't look right. And, of course, if you’d prefer we are happy to come out to do an inspection and recommend solutions.
⚠ A quick safety note: Everything on this list can be done from the ground with binoculars, or from inside your attic. Please don't climb on your roof! Wet or moss-covered shingles are extremely slippery, even for professionals.
Let’s Start Outside
Grab your phone and walk the full perimeter of your home. Look up at the roofline from multiple angles, and don't rush - you're looking for anything out of place. Check for the following:
Missing, curled, or buckled shingles. These are usually easy to spot and a clear sign of age or storm damage
Dark streaks or staining on shingles, which can indicate moss, algae, or moisture issues
Granules in your gutters or on the ground below downspouts — granule loss is a sign your shingles are aging out
Any sagging or uneven roofline sections, which may point to structural problems or rot underneath
Damage around flashing especially at the chimney, skylights, and roof vents
Lifted or cracked shingles along the eaves, a telltale sign of ice dam damage
Gutters pulling away from the surface, bent, or still packed with winter debris
CHECK THE ATTIC
On a sunny day, bring a flashlight up to your attic. This is often where roof damage shows up first and it's the clearest sign of how your roof handled the winter. Check for the following:
Water stains or dark spots on the underside of roof decking or rafters - even old stains can mean a recurring problem
Any daylight visible through the roof boards. Unfortunately if you can see sky, water can also get in
Soft, spongy, or rotted wood anywhere in the roof structure
Mold or mildew growth, which points to moisture and poor ventilation
Blocked soffit or ridge vents - proper airflow is one of the best defenses against next winter's ice dams
Do a scan inside
Some roof damage announces itself indoors before you'd ever spot it outside. A quick scan of your ceilings and upper walls takes five minutes and can catch problems while they are still small. Look for the following:
Water stains or yellowing on ceilings, especially in top-floor rooms
Peeling or bubbling paint on ceilings or upper walls which is a common symptom of moisture intrusion
Musty smells in upper rooms or closets along exterior walls
Staining or streaks near the chimney on interior walls or ceilings
what to do if you find something
Minor items like clogged gutters, debris on the roof, small patches of moss are often manageable weekend tasks for a handy homeowner. Clearing your gutters and making sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation is smart spring maintenance.
But if you found missing shingles, water staining in the attic, flashing that's lifted or cracked, or any sagging in the roofline, it's worth having a professional take a look.
We offer free inspections to Vermont homeowners - no pressure, no obligations and will always give you an honest assessment and recommendation. Serving Chittenden, Addison, Franklin, Lamoille & Washington Counties.