Roof Inspection or Roof Certification: What Do You Need?
An inspection tells you the condition of the roof. A certification is a roofer's written promise about it for a stated term.
Get an inspection when you want to know the roof's condition; get a certification when a buyer, lender or insurer asks for a written statement that the roof is sound. An inspection with photos and a written report is free from us. A certification is priced with the repairs it depends on, because the roofer is vouching for the roof for a stated term.
Home inspectors in an escrow often look at the roof from the ground or a ladder; a roofing inspection walks every slope. A certification usually follows an inspection and any repairs it calls for.
Inspection and certification at a glance
| Roof inspection | Roof certification | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A condition report with photos and a recommendation | A written statement that the roof is sound for a stated term |
| Who asks for it | Owners, buyers, sellers, insurers after a storm | Buyers, lenders and insurers, usually during an escrow |
| Cost | Free from us | Quoted per roof |
| Repairs | Recommended, not required | Required repairs are done first |
| Term | None; a snapshot of the day | A stated term, written on the certificate |
| What you get | Photos and a written report | A signed certificate naming the property and the term |
What does a roof inspection cover?
Every slope walked where it is safe, flashing at walls, chimneys and skylights, valleys, pipe boots and vents, the condition of the covering, the gutters and drainage, flat sections and their seams, and the attic side where it can be reached. You get photos and a written repair-or-replace recommendation.
What does a roof certification cover?
A certification is a roofer's written statement that the roof, after any required repairs, should remain free of leaks for a stated term under normal weather. It is not a manufacturer warranty and not a guarantee against storm damage. Read what it excludes, and check that it names the property and the term.
When do you need one in a home sale?
Buyers often ask for a roof inspection during the contingency period; on an older roof the buyer, the lender or the insurer may ask for a certification before closing. Sellers sometimes order one early so repairs are done before listing. See roof inspections for a home sale for how it fits an escrow.
When is an inspection enough?
- You want to know whether a leak means repair or replacement.
- You are planning a budget for the next few years.
- You want storm damage documented for an insurance claim.
When do you need a certification?
- A lender, insurer or buyer requires it in writing.
- The roof is older and the escrow needs assurance beyond a report.
- You are refinancing and the lender asks about remaining roof life.
What we recommend
Start with the free inspection. If a certification is required, the inspection shows which repairs it depends on, and you get one written price for both.
Related pages
- Roof inspection and certification
- Roof inspections for a home sale
- Roof repair
- How long Valley roofs last
- Roof repair in Sherman Oaks
- Roofing FAQ: hiring a roofer
Sources
Questions We
Hear About This
No. An inspection reports the roof's condition on the day. A certification is a written statement that the roof should stay leak-free for a stated term, usually issued after required repairs.
It is priced per roof together with the repairs it depends on. The inspection that comes first is free from us.
For the term written on the certificate. Read it together with what the certificate excludes, such as storm damage or work by others.
A roofing contractor issues it after inspecting the roof. Check the contractor's license on the CSLB website before relying on the certificate in an escrow.
A general home inspector reviews the roof as part of the house, often from the ground or a ladder. A roofing inspection walks the slopes and looks at flashing, decking and the attic side in more detail.
Get an Answer for
Your Roof
The guide covers the rules; a free inspection covers your roof. A roofer walks it and gives you a written quote with photos.
(818) 600-6707