Spring Roof Inspection: What to Check After Utah Winters

Start with what you can see from the ground. Walk around your house and look up:

Shingle Condition: Use binoculars to scan for missing, cracked, or curling shingles. Winter winds and ice can dislodge shingles that were marginal in fall. Note any bare spots where granules have worn away.

Flashing and Vents: Check metal components—flashing around chimneys, walls, and vents. Look for lifted edges, rust, or obvious gaps. These are common winter failure points.

Gutters and Downspouts: Ice can damage gutters severely. Look for sections that have pulled away from the fascia, bent or crushed areas, and seam separations. Make sure downspouts are still connected and draining properly.

Debris Accumulation: Winter deposits leaves, branches, and debris on roofs. Check valleys and behind dormers where debris collects. This material holds moisture and accelerates shingle wear.

Visible Sagging: Stand back and look at your roof lines. Any sagging or dipping indicates structural issues that need immediate attention. Winter snow loads can stress weakened areas.

Some winter damage shows up inside rather than outside:

Ceiling and Wall Stains: Check ceilings and walls, especially near exterior walls and under the roof line. New water stains indicate winter leaks—maybe from ice dams or failed flashing. Even if stains are dry now, the source needs addressing.

Attic Inspection: Go into your attic on a dry, sunny day. Look for daylight coming through the roof deck—that's holes. Check for water stains on the underside of decking, damp or compressed insulation, and any mold growth. Winter moisture problems are often visible here.

Ventilation Check: While in the attic, verify soffit vents are clear. Ice can block them, and blocked vents cause moisture problems that persist into summer.

Insulation Displacement: Check that insulation is still evenly distributed. Ice dam melting can displace insulation, reducing its effectiveness.

A professional spring inspection makes sense in several situations:

After Severe Winters: If you had significant ice dams, heavy snow accumulation, or visible icicles, professional inspection is wise. We find damage homeowners miss.

For Older Roofs: If your roof is 15+ years old, annual professional inspection catches developing problems before they become emergencies.

Before Selling: A professional inspection documents roof condition for potential buyers and identifies issues you should address.

When You See Problems: If your ground-level inspection reveals concerns, a professional can assess severity and recommend solutions.

Professional inspections typically include full roof walkthrough, detailed photo documentation, assessment of all components, and written report with recommendations. It's a small investment that prevents larger surprises.

Once you've inspected, prioritize what needs attention:

Immediate Priorities: Active leaks, significant missing shingles, damaged flashing, and structural concerns need prompt attention. These get worse if ignored.

Soon But Not Urgent: Minor shingle damage, caulk failures, debris cleanup, and gutter repairs can be scheduled for the next few weeks.

Monitor: Areas of concern that don't require immediate action should be documented and watched. Note them so you can track whether they worsen.

Schedule Maintenance: Spring is also good timing for routine maintenance—gutter cleaning, debris removal, moss treatment if needed. Getting these done now prevents summer problems.

Don't let findings sit. The purpose of spring inspection is catching problems early. If you find issues and don't address them, you've wasted the inspection.