What to Check After a New Roof Installation: Homeowner Inspection Guide

A new roof is a significant investment in your home’s protection and value. After the roofing crew leaves your Detroit property, taking time to verify the quality of installation can save headaches and expenses down the road. Michigan’s harsh winters, summer storms, and seasonal temperature fluctuations put extra demands on residential roofing systems, making proper installation critical for long-term performance.

Knowing what to check after a new roof installation helps homeowners ensure their roofing contractor has delivered quality workmanship that will stand up to local weather challenges. A thorough post-roof replacement inspection isn’t about distrusting your contractor, it’s about protecting your investment and gaining peace of mind that your new roof will perform as expected for years to come.

Even reputable roofing professionals can occasionally overlook details during complex installations. Using a roof installation inspection checklist allows you to identify potential issues while they’re still easily addressable under warranty. From shingle alignment to correct flashing installation, recognizing the signs of proper roof installation is important for homeowners.

The following verification steps will help Detroit homeowners confidently assess their new roofing system and ensure it’s ready to provide decades of protection.

What to Look for During a Visual Inspection

Performing a visual inspection of your new roof is the first critical step in verifying roofing contractor work. Start with a ground-level assessment on a clear day when lighting conditions make details visible. Walk around your home’s perimeter and look for consistent coloration and uniform shingle patterns. Uneven lines or varied coloring may indicate improper installation or mixed material batches.

Pay special attention to missing, crooked, or damaged shingles, which should be non-existent on a new roof installation. Check that shingle rows maintain straight lines across the roof plane. For Michigan homes, proper shingle alignment is crucial for withstanding strong winds during seasonal storms.

Next, examine the roof edges and transitions where problems most commonly develop. Roof valleys, where two roof planes meet, should have proper flashing and appear symmetrical. Inspect the drip edge along the roof perimeter, ensuring it’s secure and extends into the gutters. Flashing around roof penetrations like chimneys, vents, and skylights should be neatly installed with no gaps or exposed nails.

For Detroit homeowners, checking how well your new roof installation accommodates attic ventilation is also important. Proper soffit and ridge vents help prevent ice dams during Michigan winters. Carefully examine these areas for proper installation and sealing as part of your new roof quality check.

Waterproofing Elements: Ensuring Your Roof Will Protect Against Michigan Storms

Michigan’s unpredictable weather patterns require quality waterproofing measures in any roof installation. Flashing ranks among the most critical components of your new roof system. Flashing creates watertight seals around vulnerable areas where water naturally collects or where the roof plane is interrupted. Examine chimney flashing to ensure it’s properly stepped and sealed into mortar joints. Vent pipes should have secure boot flashing that fits snugly, with no cracking or gaps visible around the rubber gasket.

Roof valleys need special scrutiny during your post-roof replacement inspection. These valleys channel heavy runoff during Detroit’s rainstorms. Quality installations use either closed-cut or woven valley techniques with appropriate underlayment beneath. Look for clean, straight lines and overlapping that direct water flow toward gutters rather than underneath shingles.

Speaking of gutters, these form your roof’s primary water management system. Verify that gutters are securely fastened with appropriate spacing between hangers. Gutters should maintain a slight downward pitch (about 1/4 inch per 10 feet) toward downspouts to prevent standing water. Downspouts should extend at least 5 feet from your foundation to prevent basement water issues, a common problem in many Detroit neighborhoods with clay-heavy soils.

Drainage is essential to your roof’s longevity. During your new roof quality check, observe how water flows during rainfall. Pooling water or overflow indicates installation problems that require immediate correction.

Ventilation and Insulation Verification: The Hidden Components That Extend Roof Life

While shingles and flashing get most of the attention, attic ventilation and insulation are equally crucial to your roof’s performance. These hidden components significantly impact your new roof’s lifespan, especially in Detroit, where temperature extremes test roofing systems year-round.

Ventilation creates a balanced airflow system that extends shingle life by regulating attic temperature and moisture levels. After roof installation, verify that intake vents (typically at soffits) and exhaust vents (at or near the ridge) are unobstructed. Check that contractors maintained the recommended 1:300 ratio of ventilation to attic floor space. Inadequate ventilation in Michigan homes can lead to ice dams in winter and excessive heat buildup in summer that can prematurely age your new shingles.

Equally important is confirming your attic insulation wasn’t compromised during roofing work. Inspect the attic to ensure insulation wasn’t compressed, which reduces its R-value and your home’s energy efficiency. Look for gaps in insulation coverage, particularly around attic access points and along exterior walls. Insulation depth should be consistent throughout the attic space, without thin spots or areas where roofers may have disturbed the material.

Michigan homeowners should pay special attention to soffit baffles that maintain open airways between insulation and roof decking. These small details make a significant difference in your roof’s performance and your home’s energy consumption.

Documentation and Warranty Review: Securing Your Long-Term Protection

After confirming the physical aspects of your new roof installation, collecting and organizing documentation is essential for protecting your investment. Begin by requesting a complete documentation package from your Detroit roofing contractor. This should include detailed material specifications, manufacturer information for all components used, and copies of any required building permits. Permits are particularly important in Detroit neighborhoods, as local building codes generally have specific requirements for roof installations.

Your contractor should provide an itemized invoice detailing all work performed, materials used, and associated costs. Review this document carefully to ensure it matches your contract and includes specific information about shingle type, underlayment materials, and flashing components. This detailed record serves as evidence of professional installation should you ever need to file an insurance claim after severe weather common to southeastern Michigan.

Understanding your warranty coverage is crucial for long-term protection. Most new roofs come with two distinct warranties: a manufacturer warranty covering material defects and a workmanship warranty from your contractor covering installation issues. Manufacturer warranties for quality shingles typically range from 25 to 50 years, while workmanship warranties generally cover 2 to 10 years, depending on the contractor. Be sure to register your manufacturer warranty promptly, as many require registration within 30 to 90 days of installation to remain valid.

Keep all documentation, including warranty certificates, maintenance requirements, and inspection records, in a secure location. These documents are invaluable for maintaining warranty validity and may be required when selling your home in the future.

Professional Inspection Considerations: When to Call in an Expert

While homeowner checks are valuable, certain situations call for a professional third-party inspection of your new roof. If you notice consistent water stains, multiple missing shingles, granule loss, or hear unexplained noises during wind events, it’s time to consult an expert. Similarly, if your energy bills suddenly increase after installation or you observe sagging areas, these red flags warrant professional assessment before problems escalate.

Professional roof inspections differ significantly from homeowner checks in both scope and precision. Certified inspectors bring specialized equipment, such as infrared cameras that detect hidden moisture beneath the surface. They can identify subtle installation errors invisible to untrained eyes, like improper nail placement or inadequate underlayment sealing that might compromise your roof during Michigan’s harsh weather conditions.

Expert inspectors also evaluate the ventilation system’s efficiency using airflow measurement tools and can conduct stress tests to verify flashing integrity. Their comprehensive reports provide documented evidence of any installation deficiencies, which can be helpful when addressing warranty claims with your roofing contractor. Most importantly, professional inspectors offer unbiased assessments based on industry standards rather than contractual obligations.

For most Detroit homeowners, investing in a professional post-roof replacement inspection provides significant peace of mind, especially for complex installations or when preliminary observations raise concerns about workmanship quality. This small investment can prevent expensive repairs and extend your roof’s functional lifespan.

Maintaining Your New Roof: First-Year Care Essentials

The first year after your roof installation is critical for ensuring its long-term performance. Detroit’s weather conditions, from heavy snowfall to summer storms, make maintenance especially important for homeowners. Establishing good care habits early will maximize your roof’s lifespan and protect your investment for years to come.

After installation, schedule a follow-up inspection with your roofing contractor at the six-month mark to catch any settling issues before they develop into problems. Additional inspections are recommended after significant weather events like severe thunderstorms, heavy snowfall exceeding 12 inches, or wind events with gusts over 50 mph, which are all common in the Detroit region. These weather-related checks can find potential damage while it is still minor.

Simple maintenance practices can significantly extend your roof’s life. Keep gutters clear of debris, especially in fall. Trim overhanging branches that could damage shingles during storms. After winter, check for signs of damage caused by ice dams, which might indicate ventilation issues that need addressing. Regularly remove moss or algae growth, which is more common in partially shaded roof sections.

Document all maintenance performed and keep records with your warranty information. Taking these proactive steps during the first year establishes patterns that preserve your roof’s integrity and help verify the quality of your installation while still under initial warranty coverage.

Ensure Your New Roof is in Top Condition with Paramount Roofing

After investing in a new roof installation, it’s important to inspect your property to guarantee its durability and effectiveness, especially considering Detroit’s unpredictable weather. A detailed inspection is necessary to protect your investment and ensure your home remains safe and dry. Here’s what you should look for:

• Examine the shingles and ensure there are no gaps or misalignments.
• Check all flashing to prevent water infiltration.
• Inspect gutters and downspouts for proper installation and functionality, crucial for managing heavy rainfalls.
• Review your attic’s ventilation and insulation to avoid moisture buildup, which can prematurely degrade your roof.

If you notice any discrepancies or have concerns about the quality of your installation, don’t hesitate to contact us. Call Paramount Roofing at (586) 690-0227 for a professional inspection and peace of mind that your roof is set to protect your home against Michigan storms.