What we look at
- Shingle condition: granule loss, curling, cracking, creasing, missing tabs.
- Flashing at chimneys, walls, skylights, valleys and plumbing vent boots.
- Roof penetrations: exhaust caps, satellite or solar mounts, and how they are sealed.
- Ridge and soffit ventilation, and whether intake and exhaust are balanced.
- Drip edge, gutters and where water leaves the roof.
- The attic, where it is safe and accessible: stains, daylight, damp or dark decking, and where bath fan ducts end.
Why inspection matters for Sterling's housing ages
The question changes with the house. On a 1960s Sterling Park home, we are often asking how many roofs have been on it and what the decking looks like after them. On a Sugarland Run or Countryside house from the 1970s or 1980s, the question is usually where this roof sits in its second life. On a Cascades home built in the 1990s, the house may still have its first roof, and the inspection is about whether that roof is near the end of the 20 to 30 years asphalt shingles commonly last. Our guide to roof age on Sterling-area homes goes deeper.
What you get afterward
A plain answer: the roof is fine for now, it needs a specific repair, or it is time to plan a replacement. If work is recommended, it goes into a written scope so you can compare it with any other quote line by line. We would rather tell you a roof has years left than sell a replacement it does not need.
Inspection before a sale or purchase
The roof is one of the first things buyers and home inspectors ask about. If you are selling, an inspection lets you decide whether to repair, replace or disclose before the question comes up in negotiations. If you are buying, it tells you what you are taking on.
What inspection photos often show
These photos are from Roofing Roughnecks projects in Reston and McLean, and show the details an inspection focuses on: flashing around a dormer and chimney, a skylight, and a chimney meeting the ridge.
The cost guide lists ranges for the repair or replacement work an inspection may lead to; the inspection itself is the first step of an estimate.
Related pages
How often should a Sterling roof be inspected?▸
A look after any severe storm and periodically as the roof ages is sensible. Roofs past 20 years deserve closer attention, since asphalt shingles commonly last 20 to 30 years.
Do you go into the attic?▸
Where it is safe and accessible, yes. The attic often shows leaks, ventilation problems and misrouted exhaust ducts that cannot be seen from the roof.
Will you always recommend a replacement?▸
No. Many inspections end with a repair or no work at all. The recommendation depends on what the roof actually shows.
Talk to roofers who have worked in Sterling
Call (703) 731-9208 (Monday – Saturday, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM) or use the request-an-estimate page. We look at the roof first and put the recommended scope in writing before any work starts.
Request an Estimate