Your underlayment is the actual roof. Shingles are the umbrella. Most homeowners have no idea what's underneath — and neither do most contractors bidding a re-roof. Lifted-shingle spot probes at eaves, valleys, and penetrations identify what you have, score remaining life, and verify NM code minimums.
Lifted-shingle spot probes at eaves, valleys, and penetrations
Type identification: 15# felt, 30# felt, synthetic, peel-and-stick
Remaining-life scoring based on brittleness, tear resistance, and staining
NM code minimum verification for your slope and elevation
Ice-and-water membrane presence check (required in northern NM)
Written scope: acceptable as-is, add ice-and-water at re-roof, or full underlayment replace
Full walk with lifted-shingle spot probes at 6–10 locations (eaves, valleys, penetrations, ridges). Underlayment type identification per probe location — most re-roofs are inconsistent underneath. Brittleness and tear-resistance scoring by hand-flex at probe locations. Staining, wrinkling, and fastener-pull-through survey. NM code minimum verification: IRC R905, NMCID amendments, slope-based layer requirements. Ice-and-water membrane presence check at eaves and valleys (required in northern NM ice-dam zones). Written scope: acceptable to leave for shingle life, add ice-and-water at next re-roof, or full underlayment replacement now.
NM homeowners planning a re-roof and wanting to know if the underlayment needs to come off too. Buyers under contract on older homes with unknown underlayment vintage. Owners with mystery ceiling stains that don't correlate to visible shingle damage. Northern NM owners (Taos, Los Alamos, Santa Fe higher elevations) verifying ice-and-water compliance. Owners who want proof of code compliance for insurance or resale documentation.
Verbal Walk — $149 Standard Underlayment Report — $349 Detailed w/ 6–10 Probe Locations + Code Compliance Verification — $499 Bundle with Shingle or Tile Report — $199 add-on Most underlayment inspections are $349–$499. Catching a re-roof that should include underlayment replacement (not just new shingles over old underlayment) saves 15–20 years of premature re-roof cost.
Because the underlayment is the actual waterproof layer. Shingles are the sun/impact shield. When shingles fail small (missing tab, blown-off ridge cap), the underlayment holds the water out until you can repair. When underlayment fails and shingles are fine, you get mystery ceiling stains and interior damage while the roof 'looks perfect' from the ground.
Lifted-shingle spot probes at eaves, valleys, and around penetrations — the four places where I can see the underlayment without disturbing sound shingles above. I lift a few tabs, photograph the underlayment type and condition, then reseat them. I can't verify 100%, but the spot probes tell me if you have 15# felt (30% life), 30# felt (60% life), synthetic (95% life), or peel-and-stick.
IRC-adopted with NMCID amendments: minimum one layer of 15# ASTM D226 felt or equivalent synthetic on shingle roofs; two layers below 4:12 slope; peel-and-stick required at eaves and valleys in ice-dam regions (Taos, Los Alamos, Angel Fire elevations). I verify what's actually installed against what's required for your slope and location.
Signed 2/3/5-year cert for lenders & insurers.
FLIR moisture scan + core verification.
Vigas, canales, parapet caps — NM specialty.
Manufacturer + workmanship defect audit.
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.