Know what to look for. Know the next step.

Clear information. Your decision.

Understand the signs, compare suitable materials and see how a complete roof should be planned before choosing work. You can ask for evidence, review alternatives and approve a specific scope at your own pace.

Compare materials and complete roof assemblies · Understand the assessment process

You choose the next step

You do not need to know the cause or select a material before asking a question. Request the findings, compare suitable options and take time to review the written scope. Sending an inquiry does not authorize construction or optional upgrades.

• Set your priorities: stop a specific leak, retain sound materials, improve the assembly, manage disruption or stay within a budget.
• Ask for a base option and separately priced alternatives where technically suitable. Request the reason if a smaller repair is ruled out.
• Agree any assessment fee, access and testing before the visit. Ask which observations, photographs or written findings are included.
• Before accepting work, confirm materials, exclusions, payment terms, timing and the process for approving additional work. You can request clarification or another opinion.

The proposal and signed agreement define the actual work and terms. This checklist helps you ask for the information you want before deciding.

Start with what you can safely see

Choose the material or service closest to your question. You do not need to identify the cause before contacting us, and a visible change does not automatically mean full replacement.

Use observations from the ground, an ordinary occupied room or photos you already have. Do not climb onto a roof, enter an unsafe area, lift materials or test a damaged component. A photo can help explain the concern; it cannot establish the cause or hidden condition.

If there is an immediate safety concern, move away from the affected area and contact the appropriate emergency service. Our online request is not emergency dispatch. Contact availability does not promise an immediate site visit.

Roof materials: signs worth discussing

• Asphalt shingles ↗

  Missing or visibly lifted shingles after wind; Cracked or curled edges visible from a safe location; New ceiling staining or repeated debris collecting below a roof edge.

• Metal roofing ↗

  A panel or trim edge that looks displaced; Visible corrosion or changes around a roof penetration; New dripping or staining associated with rain.

• Concrete and clay tile ↗

  Broken, missing or displaced tiles visible from the ground; Fragments found below a roof edge; An interior leak even when the visible tiles look intact.

• TPO membrane ↗

  A recurring leak or new stain below the roof; Separation or damage shown in photographs you already have; Changes near equipment, edges or drainage outlets.

• PVC membrane ↗

  A new leak following equipment or roof-access work; A damaged detail visible in existing safe photos; Recurring concerns near drains, edges or penetrations.

• EPDM rubber roofing ↗

  Recurring leaks around roof details; A visibly displaced edge in existing photos; New damage reported after another trade accessed the roof.

• Modified bitumen ↗

  A split or changed surface shown in existing safe photos; A recurring leak near an edge or penetration; A previous patch that is no longer controlling the symptom.

• Built-up roofing ↗

  An interior leak or stain that returns; Changed or displaced surfacing shown in existing photos; Concerns around outlets or previous repair areas.

• Spray polyurethane foam roofing ↗

  A damaged surface shown in existing photos; Changes in a previously repaired area; A leak or drainage concern reported by an occupant.

• Silicone roof coatings ↗

  A leak that continues after previous coating work; A visibly damaged coated area in existing photos; Uncertainty about the coating or original roof below it.

• Slate roofing ↗

  A missing or displaced piece visible from the ground; Fragments below the roof; A leak near a valley, wall or penetration.

• Wood shakes and shingles ↗

  Missing or displaced pieces visible from the ground; Splitting or a changed area you can already see safely; An interior moisture concern or recurring repair.

• Synthetic and composite roofing ↗

  Missing, cracked or displaced units visible from a safe location; A changed edge or penetration detail; A new leak after weather or roof-access work.

Roof shapes and their connections

Shape and material are different questions. A pitched, hip or parapet roof can include different coverings and details.

• Pitched roofs ↗

  Visible changes at eaves, ridges or valleys; new interior staining.

• Parapet roofs ↗

  A changed wall cap, wall staining or overflow seen from the ground.

• Mixed-material and multi-level roofs ↗

  Leaks or staining near a change in roof height or material.

• Gable roofs ↗

  A displaced rake-edge detail, changed ridge line or missing material visible from the ground.

• Hip roofs ↗

  A changed hip or ridge detail, displaced pieces or interior staining.

• Shed and lean-to roofs ↗

  Staining where the roof meets a taller wall, changed edges or gutter overflow.

Roofing, exterior and construction help

• Roof repairs ↗

  A new or recurring stain, dripping, missing roof material or a changed flashing detail.

• Roof replacement ↗

  Repeated repairs, unresolved leaks or a proposal that does not explain why repair is unsuitable.

• Roof coatings ↗

  A recurring leak, damaged coating or uncertainty about the roof beneath an older coating.

• Roof maintenance ↗

  A changed roof detail, a known recurring issue or a gap in the property’s maintenance records.

• Residential roofing ↗

  Interior water marks, displaced material visible from the ground or a roof concern after weather.

• Commercial roofing ↗

  Occupant leak reports, repeated service calls or concerns after equipment work.

• Gutters and downspouts ↗

  Overflow seen during rain, leaking joints, sagging runs or water discharging beside the building.

• Skylights ↗

  New staining around the opening, dripping or a change in the visible frame or glazing.

• Stucco ↗

  Cracks that change, staining around openings or a visibly detached area.

• Siding ↗

  Loose or displaced pieces, open joints, warping or staining visible from the ground.

• Flat and low-slope roofing ↗

  Interior leaks, overflow seen from the ground or changed details reported in existing roof photos.

• General construction ↗

  An unfinished repair, deteriorating feature or project that involves more than one trade.

• Remodeling and renovations ↗

  A layout that no longer works, worn finishes or changes that may affect more than a cosmetic surface.

• Roof inspections and assessments ↗

  A recurring concern, an unclear prior report or a decision that needs documented observations.

• Tile lift and reset ↗

  A leak under apparently intact tile, displaced units or a proposal to reuse existing tiles.

• Roof flashing repairs ↗

  Staining near a wall, chimney, skylight or other penetration; changed trim visible from a safe location.

• Roof drainage, scuppers and canales ↗

  Overflow, water landing in a changed location or visible debris at a safely observable outlet.

• Fascia and soffit repairs ↗

  Peeling finish, staining, a loose edge or a visible gap beneath the eave.

• Exterior painting ↗

  Peeling or failed finish, staining or a change around a repaired surface.

• Interior water-damage repairs ↗

  New or growing water marks, damp finishes, peeling paint or a recurring moisture concern.

• Windows and doors ↗

  Water staining around the opening, visibly damaged trim or a changed fit.

Help for business websites and software

These are separate remote services for businesses across the U.S.

• Business websites ↗

  A form that fails on a phone, unclear service information, broken contact links or uncertainty about domain ownership.

• Custom business software ↗

  Repeated re-entry, missed handoffs, unclear access permissions or reports whose data source is unknown.

• Website and software project planning ↗

  Customers struggle to contact you, or staff rely on repeated manual steps that are difficult to trace.

What to send with a request

1. Your city or ZIP code for property work; business city/state for digital work.
2. What you noticed, where it is and when it started.
3. Whether water is still entering or the concern is changing.
4. Safe existing photos and known repair records, if available.
5. Your preferred response method: phone call or email.

Choose a related service page above to carry that project into your inquiry. You do not need an account or a payment to send a request. We confirm project fit, assessment scope, availability and any visit fee before you agree.

A clear scope builds confidence

Ask what the assessment will cover, which areas are accessible and whether you will receive observations, photographs or a written quote. Ask how repair and replacement options are explained, what is excluded and how additional work would be approved. You decide after reviewing the actual proposal.

See the assessment and quote process ↗ · Review the sample estimate ↗ · Questions to ask before hiring ↗ · Understand warranty questions ↗

Read the references behind the questions

Manufacturer and industry resources explain system-specific details; their appearance here does not imply Roof Doctor is certified or endorsed by those organizations.

• GAF: visible roof damage ↗
• Carlisle: TPO roofing system resources ↗
• Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau: maintenance questions ↗
• EPA: moisture and water-damage guidance ↗

These guides support a conversation, not a remote diagnosis, building certification or insurance decision. A written proposal defines work we agree to perform; specialist evaluation or another trade may be needed.