Calls answered 24/7.
One call to (855) 512-1072 reaches Roofers Hotline for roof inspection in 38 metro areas and 775 towns across 51 states. Someone answers at any hour, and the estimate is written down before any work begins.
What roof inspection covers, when to call, what it costs and how to book it in your ZIP code.
A roof inspection starts with the surface. The roof is walked or surveyed by drone, so every slope is looked at and not just the ones you can see from the yard. Flashing, penetrations, valleys and the ridge are checked, because those are the places where water usually gets in first.
The inspection also goes inside. The attic is checked for moisture, ventilation and daylight showing through the boards, and the gutters and drainage are checked for anything that sends water back toward the roof edge. You end up with a written report with photos and a repair-or-replace opinion, which you can keep for your records or use to compare with other estimates. Typical 2026 ranges from published cost guides (Fixr) are $300 to $600 per visit. Call to book the inspection and ask what the written report will include.
The roofer walks the roof or flies a drone over each slope and looks for lifted, cracked or missing material and worn areas. If this step is skipped, damage on slopes you cannot see from the ground stays hidden, and a small problem can grow until water gets in.
The roofer checks the metal flashing, the seals around vents and pipes, the valleys where slopes meet and the ridge line. These are the joints where leaks usually begin. If they are skipped, a failed seal can let water in for months before a stain shows indoors.
The roofer looks at the underside of the roof from the attic for damp wood, poor airflow and light coming through gaps. If this check is skipped, moisture and trapped heat can damage the decking and insulation even when the shingles look fine from outside.
The roofer checks that gutters are attached, clear and sloped so water leaves the roof edge and moves away from the house. If this is skipped, clogged or loose gutters can hold water against the roof edge and the fascia, which leads to rot over time.
The roofer documents what was found, with photos, and gives an opinion on whether a repair or a replacement makes sense. If this is skipped, you have only a verbal impression to rely on and nothing to compare against other estimates or to show a buyer or installer.
What moves the price up or down is set out in roof replacement cost, and the published ranges sit above. Material by material, roof repair cost lays out the prices behind the ranges above.
Say a storm rolls through on a Thursday night and by Saturday you notice a damp patch on the bedroom ceiling. You call Roofers Hotline, book a roof inspection, and the roof is checked slope by slope, along with the flashing and the attic. You then get a written report with photos and an opinion on whether the roof needs a repair or a replacement. Typical 2026 ranges from published cost guides run $300 to $600 per visit, so you know the scale of the cost before you call. Call Roofers Hotline 24 hours a day to book your roof inspection, or ask for the written estimate.
For a worked example from one metro area, see the College Station roof replacement cost guide, which covers the same ground for its own county. Read what skylight installation and repair includes for the work step by step, from the first call to the written estimate.
Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2019 to 2023; NOAA Storm Events; OpenFEMA declarations. Updated October 2026.
Four situations are the usual reasons to book an inspection: buying or selling a home, after a hail or wind event, a roof older than 15 years with no recent check, and before a solar install. In each case the roof is about to matter more, whether to a buyer, an installer or the next storm, and a report with photos gives you something concrete to act on.
The cost guide behind the $300 to $600 range notes that a written estimate for any work that follows depends on pitch, layers and decking, so the inspection is the step that tells you which of those apply to your roof. After a storm, small problems such as lifted flashing or a soaked patch of attic insulation are easier to deal with before the next rain. Call Roofers Hotline to book your inspection before you list, buy or install.
You start with one call, at any hour. Tell Roofers Hotline what prompted it, such as a stain on the ceiling, a recent storm, a house you are about to buy or a solar install you are planning. A callback then books the inspection at a time that suits you.
After the inspection you get the written report with photos and the repair-or-replace opinion. If work is needed, you receive a written estimate before any work starts, so you can read the scope and the price at your own pace. Have the roof's approximate age, any past repairs and the location of any leak ready when you call. Call now to book your roof inspection.
Costs
| Job | Range | Per unit |
|---|---|---|
| Roof inspection | $300–$600 | per visit |
Typical ranges for 2026 from published cost guides (sources below); a written estimate depends on pitch, layers and decking.
Not a quote: typical 2026 ranges from published cost guides and Census County Business Patterns 2022 payroll data; your written estimate depends on pitch, layers and decking.
Source: published 2026 cost guides (Fixr).
Why call
Enter a ZIP code on Find roofers by ZIP code to find roofing help for your area. See roof inspection in Chicago for the visit itself, booked across the metro areas served. One call also covers Edison roof inspection, photographed first and estimated in writing. The same storm often brings calls for roof inspection in Los Angeles too, with the estimate written before the work.
Questions
Typical 2026 ranges from published cost guides (Fixr) are $300 to $600 per visit. That is a typical range, not a quote. Call Roofers Hotline to book the inspection, and any repair or replacement work comes with a written estimate before it starts.
It includes a surface walk or drone survey of every slope, a check of flashing, penetrations, valleys and the ridge, an attic check, a gutter and drainage check, and a written report with photos. Call to book yours and ask what the report will cover.
Book one when you are buying or selling a home, after a hail or wind event, when the roof is older than 15 years with no recent check, or before a solar install. If one of those applies, call Roofers Hotline to schedule the inspection.
You get a written report with photos and an opinion on whether the roof needs repair or replacement. If work is needed, a written estimate comes before any work starts. Call Roofers Hotline to book the inspection and receive your report.
Have the roof's approximate age, any past repairs, the reason for the call and the location of any leak or stain. If you are buying, selling or planning solar, mention that. Call Roofers Hotline any hour and a callback books the inspection.
One more question from the metro areas served is How long does a roof last? Homeowners across the metro areas served also ask Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement?
Takes about a minute. Tell us the ZIP code and what the roof is doing, and a local roofer calls you back to book an inspection and written estimate.
Start your requestOr call: the number at the top of this page is answered 24/7.