Interior wall leak at a roof-to-wall termination? Ninety percent of the time it's a missing kickout, buried step flashing, or a failed counter-flashing reglet. I inspect every roof-to-wall interface, cite the IRC code that requires it, and give you a scope your contractor can't caulk their way through.
Every roof-to-wall termination inspected — headwall, sidewall, chimney chase, dormer, second-story bump-out
Kickout flashing presence at every gutter termination (IRC R903.2.1)
Step flashing weave inspection — one course per shingle, correct overlap
Counter-flashing reglet or stucco-weep lap condition
Interior + attic-side moisture trace to correlate exterior findings
Written scope specifying real reflash vs caulk-over, with contractor bid template
Roof-side inspection of every roof-to-wall termination: headwall, sidewall, chimney chase, dormer, second-story bump-out. Kickout flashing verification at every location where a roof-to-wall ends above a gutter (IRC R903.2.1). Step flashing inspection: one 5x7 piece per shingle course, proper weave, correct overlap, exposed edges checked. Counter-flashing reglet (masonry) or stucco weep lap inspection. Attic-side inspection where accessible for framing water tracks and insulation compression from wet cycles. Interior wall/ceiling inspection at any suspect termination — paint bubbling, drywall staining, moisture meter probing. Written scope with real reflash requirements (not caulk-over), a contractor bid template with per-termination pricing, and an inspection-of-work checklist for after the repair.
Homeowners with interior wall or ceiling leaks along a roof-to-wall line. Owners with stucco cracks or staining tracking down from a roof termination. Owners of tract homes built between 2000-2015 (peak era of missing kickouts on NM builds). Buyers under contract on any home with a roof-to-wall transition and interior stain history. Owners who've already paid for a 'reflash' and want to verify it was done right.
Standard Roof-to-Wall Flashing Report — $349 Full Termination Audit + Interior Trace — $549 Post-Reflash Verification Inspection — $299 Add to any inspection — $199 Most are $349–$549. Documenting a missing kickout on a home in warranty gets the builder to install it. Documenting it out of warranty gets you the repair scope contractors can't skate around.
It's a small piece of angled flashing at the bottom of a roof-to-wall termination that kicks water OUT of the wall assembly and INTO the gutter. Miss it, and every gallon of roof runoff pours behind the stucco into the wall cavity. IRC R903.2.1 requires it — but it's the single most commonly missed flashing on NM tract homes.
You mostly don't from the outside. Signs: interior paint bubbling at a roof-to-wall corner, dark ceiling stains along a wall line, or stucco cracks tracking from a roof termination. I inspect from the roof side, from the attic if there's access, and from the interior — most step flashing failures I've documented were 'invisible' until we knew where to look.
Depends on the contractor. Real reflashing means: remove siding/stucco 12+ inches up the wall, install new step flashing woven with each shingle course, install new counter-flashing reglet cut into masonry or lapped under stucco weep, seal appropriately. Bad reflashing means: caulk over the top of what's there. My report specifies which is required and how to inspect the fix.
Yearly punch-list + service-life estimate.
Pre-listing & buyer due-diligence reports.
Reserve study + per-unit documentation.
Party-wall + shared-roof attribution.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.