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Annual roof maintenance: a seasonal calendar and an inspection checklist
Short answer: look at the roof from the ground, the gutters, the flashing and the attic on a fixed schedule, write down what you see, and compare it with last time. The sources behind this guide, from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the EPA and the Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR program, name overlapping tasks. The calendar below places them on the year; the checklist after it tells you what to look for.
- Gutters, flashing and attic all appear in the IBHS winter list
- Downspouts should carry water 3 to 4 feet from the foundation (IBHS)
- Ladder work has its own rules: see the safety section
The seasonal calendar
The table groups the tasks that the cited sources name into four slots plus an after-storm slot. The sources attach tasks to winter and thunderstorm preparation, not to particular months, so the placement in the first column is ours.
| Slot | Tasks | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Look for missing or loose roof coverings from the ground. Clean and repair gutters. Trim branches that overhang the roof. Seal gaps on the exterior. | IBHS survey practices; IBHS Thunderstorm Ready; EPA Brief Guide |
| Summer | Check the attic for stains, daylight through the deck and wet insulation. Compare insulation depth with the floor joists. | IBHS survey practices; ENERGY STAR attic check |
| Fall, before winter | Inspect shingles or covering, flashing at edges, vent stacks, skylights and chimneys, and fascia. Clean and secure gutters. Check attic insulation, vents and access door. | IBHS Winter Ready |
| Winter | Watch ceilings and the eaves for stains or ice. Keep the winter checklist from fall nearby. | IBHS Winter Ready |
| After any major storm | Document edge metal, gutters, loose covering and new ceiling stains. Compare with your earlier photographs. | IBHS survey practices |
Sources: IBHS home guides and the RICOWI survey practices; EPA; ENERGY STAR. Opened October 26, 2026.
The inspection checklist
This list follows the order of the IBHS and RICOWI survey practices: outside first, then the roof edge and its parts, then the inside. Tick what you can see from the ground, a stable ladder at the eave, or the attic floor.
From the ground
- Missing, loose or lifted roof covering
- Perimeter edge metal, fascia and trim that are loose, bent or rotted
- Gutters and downspouts that are secured, and downspouts that discharge 3 to 4 feet from the foundation
- Staining or streaks on the roof surface
- Branches over the roof
At the roof parts
- Flashing at walls, chimneys, vent stacks and skylights: gaps, lifted edges, damaged seals
- Valleys and step flashing where one plane meets another
- Penetrations and roof-mounted equipment: vents, skylights, chimneys, roof hatches, AC units
- Anything roof-mounted that may have shifted in wind
Inside
- Ceilings in rooms under the roof: new or growing stains
- Attic deck near penetrations, perimeters and corners: stains or dampness
- Daylight showing through the deck
- Insulation that is wet, stained or displaced
The RICOWI glossary defines counter flashing as formed metal fixed on or into a wall or curb to cover the upper edge of base flashing, and a valley flashing as a lining where two roof planes meet at a downward angle. If a report uses those words, ask which one it means and where it is. See also our gutter maintenance and roof inspection posts.
Attic checks and safety
IBHS ties the attic to the roof: it asks for adequate insulation with proper ventilation, an insulated attic access door and sealed penetrations for vents, plumbing and wiring. Its reasoning is that water which does not drain off a roof can freeze into ice dams and add to snow load, and untreated ice dams can cause interior water damage.
- What to bring
- ENERGY STAR lists boards to walk on, a tape measure, a flashlight or headlamp, a hard hat, safety glasses, gloves and a dust mask.
- Where to step
- On joists or truss chords, not on exposed drywall or insulation, because a foot can go through the ceiling. Watch for nails pointing up from the ceiling or down from the deck.
- Vermiculite
- ENERGY STAR warns that vermiculite insulation, a pea-size flaky gray mineral, may contain asbestos and should not be disturbed unless an approved lab has tested it. Your local health department can name a lab.
- Quick insulation check
- If insulation is level with or below the floor joists, ENERGY STAR says you probably need more. If you cannot see the joists at all, you probably have enough. Look for low spots along the eaves.
The EPA adds a reason to act on a leak quickly: its brief guide says wet materials dried within 24 to 48 hours of a leak will, in most cases, not grow mold, and its mold course says a roof left to leak long enough lets mold weaken floors and walls by feeding on wet wood. Where mold is suspected of damaging the structure, it points to a structural engineer or similar professional.
What the Virginia code says about attics and eaves
Two sections of the 2021 Virginia Residential Code matter when an inspection turns up an attic or eave question. The text below comes from the UpCodes copy of the Virginia edition; confirm anything that affects a permit with the county.
R806: attic ventilation
Enclosed attics need cross ventilation through openings protected from rain and snow. The minimum net free vent area is 1/150 of the vented space, or 1/300 when the code's two conditions are met: a vapor retarder in the coldest climate zones, and 40 to 50 percent of the vent area placed high in the attic. Where eave vents are used, insulation may not block airflow, and a space of at least 1 inch is kept between insulation and roof sheathing.
R905.1.2: ice barriers
Where the code's climate table designates a history of ice forming along eaves, an ice barrier goes under asphalt shingles and several other coverings. It is two cemented layers of underlayment, or a self-adhering sheet, running from the lowest edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line.
The code text does not tell you whether your own roof meets either section. That takes a measurement of the attic and a look at the eaves, which is why a written scope should name vents and underlayment by section when it proposes changes.
Ladders and roof access
OSHA's construction ladder standard governs workplaces, not homeowners, but it is a clear published list of how ladders are meant to be set up and shows what a roofer working for you is held to.
- Set the ladder on a stable, level surface, or secure it so it cannot shift.
- Extend the side rails at least 3 feet above the upper landing, or secure the top to a rigid support.
- Place the foot about one quarter of the working length away from the top support.
- Keep the top and bottom areas clear, and do not use the top step of a stepladder as a step.
- Near exposed energized equipment, use a ladder with nonconductive side rails.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053, which applies to construction workplaces. Opened October 26, 2026.
The IBHS survey practices add roof-level hazards: slick staining on steep slopes, roof edges, changes in elevation, overhead power lines, trip hazards and exhaust fumes. Their equipment list includes fall protection. If a task needs you on the roof itself, that is a task for someone equipped for it.
Keeping a record
The survey practices begin by gathering known issues, the age of the covering, maintenance history, the location of penetrations and skylights, and how the roof performed in past weather events. They end by comparing new observations with prior data to see patterns of weathering. A simple log serves the same purpose.
- Date and weatherWhat happened in the days before you looked.
- PhotographsEach roof plane, each penetration, each flashing run, with a note of where you stood.
- FindingsWhat changed since the last entry, in your words.
- ActionWho was called and what was said.
Arlington buildings and who does the upkeep
Upkeep is easier to schedule when you know whose job it is. In a detached house it is yours. In a condo, co-op or apartment building the roof may belong to the association or owner rather than to you, and the board decides who inspects it. Our condo and co-op guide reads the Virginia statutes on that question.
Work beyond upkeep can bring a permit or a historic review. The Arlington hub sets out the county tests, and the neighborhood guides cover Columbia Pike garden apartments, Clarendon and Lyon Park flat roofs, slate roofs and 1940s subdivision houses. For a flat or low-slope roof, see flat roof systems; for a leak that is already active, see roof repair.
What to ask a roofer who inspects
- Will the report name each flashing run, penetration and vent, with a photograph of each?
- Will it separate wear from storm damage, and say what the evidence is?
- Does it cover the attic side of the deck, or only the surface?
- What is the Virginia license number, class and specialty, so it can be checked on the DPOR license lookup?
- If a repair is proposed, what is written down about materials, vents and underlayment?
Roofers of Arlington installs, repairs and replaces roofs, flat and metal systems included, in Arlington and nearby, and a phone consultation is the place to talk through an inspection. Our services page and materials overview give the wider picture.
Sources opened October 26, 2026
All pages below were opened on October 26, 2026.
- IBHS: Winter Ready, home guide
- IBHS: Thunderstorm Ready, home guide
- RICOWI and IBHS: roof survey practices and metal flashing guide
- EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home and Mold Course, chapter 2
- ENERGY STAR: DIY checks and inspections
- 2021 Virginia Residential Code, chapter 8 and chapter 9 (UpCodes copy)
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1926.1053, ladders
Questions people ask
How many times a year should a roof be checked?
The sources we read do not set a number. IBHS asks owners to inspect the roof, gutters and attic before winter, and its thunderstorm guidance adds sealing gaps and trimming overhanging branches. The calendar above places those tasks in four slots and adds a look after any major storm. Treat the slots as a placement we chose, not a rule from a source.
What is the first thing to look at after a storm?
Start at ground level: loose or missing shingles, displaced edge metal, gutters pulled away, and debris. The IBHS survey practices list missing or loose perimeter edge metal, fascia, coping, gutters and downspouts among the patterns to document. Then check ceilings for new stains. Photograph everything with a date before anything is moved.
Why does a gutter problem count as a roof problem?
Gutters sit at the roof edge, where water leaves the roof. IBHS says water that does not drain off a roof can freeze into ice dams, and the EPA lists regular gutter cleaning and repair among its moisture-control steps. Clogged or detached gutters also put water against the fascia, which IBHS lists as a repair item.
Is an attic stain always a roof leak?
No source says so. The EPA lists leaking roofs next to leaking pipes, condensation and high humidity as moisture sources. A stain on the deck near a penetration or at a perimeter points toward the roof, but a roofer or building professional has to trace it. Mark the spot, photograph it and note the date.
Can I walk on my own roof to check it?
This guide does not recommend it. The IBHS survey practices list slick staining, roof edges, changes in elevation, overhead power lines and trip hazards as hazards to note, and they list fall protection as equipment. Binoculars from the ground and a look from inside the attic cover much of the checklist without leaving the ladder or the floor.
What does the Virginia code require for attic ventilation?
The 2021 Virginia Residential Code text we read requires cross ventilation of enclosed attics, with a minimum net free vent area of one square foot per 150 square feet of vented space, or one per 300 if two stated conditions are met, one of them a vapor retarder in the coldest climate zones. It also requires a 1 inch air space between insulation and roof sheathing at eave vents. Ask your roofer how a quoted vent change meets that section.
What is an ice barrier and does my roof need one?
The code describes an ice barrier as two cemented layers of underlayment, or a self-adhering sheet, reaching at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. It is required only where the code's climate table designates a history of ice along eaves. Whether that applies to your address is a question for the county and your roofer, not something this page can answer.
Does regular upkeep change what an insurer pays?
This page does not say, and the sources above are silent on insurer decisions. IBHS asks owners to know what their policy covers and to document belongings. Read your policy, ask your insurer directly, and see our roofing insurance page for what the Virginia Bureau of Insurance publishes about claims.
Talk through your roof with Roofers of Arlington
Share the address, what you are seeing on the roof and the decision you need to make. We will tell you what to expect before anything is scheduled.