A professional roof inspection from a 30-year contractor. We document the condition, flag any risks, and give you clear written recommendations. No sales pressure.
Most hail damage to asphalt shingles is invisible from the ground. The impact points — circular depressions where granules have been displaced, bruising of the mat fibers underneath — look like nothing from a ladder at the eaves. A trained inspector gets on the roof, walks the surface, and probes individual impact points by hand to assess the actual condition of the shingle system.
After every significant hail event in the Chicago area, out-of-state storm chasers work door-to-door in affected neighborhoods. They offer "free inspections" and then pressure homeowners to sign contracts immediately. The problem: a rushed inspection by someone who doesn't carry an Illinois roofing license and won't be accountable to you in five years is not the same thing as a documented inspection from a licensed local contractor with 30 years in this market. The two things that matter are whether the damage is real and whether your claim is legitimate. We tell you honestly either way.
Granule loss at impact points, curling, cracking, missing tabs, exposed nails, and overall age-related deterioration.
Impact point density, size, and distribution across all roof-facing surfaces — the data that determines whether you have a claimable hail event.
Step flashing, chimney flashing, valley metal, vent boots, and drip edge — the most common source of leaks regardless of shingle condition.
Soffit intake, ridge vents, attic airflow adequacy, and signs of moisture accumulation that could indicate ventilation failure.
Soft spots, sagging areas, and evidence of prior water damage visible from the attic — problems that affect the success of any future re-roof.
Gutter capacity, slope, joint integrity, downspout discharge, and whether water is shedding away from the foundation as designed.
Hail damage to asphalt shingles has specific characteristics that distinguish it from normal weathering. At each impact point, the granule layer — the mineral particles embedded in the shingle surface — is displaced, leaving a depression and exposing the darker asphalt mat. The mat itself is bruised or fractured at the impact, which you can feel as a soft spot when probed with firm thumb pressure. A trained inspector maps these impact points, notes their density, and cross-references them against the damage to metal components on the roof.
Metal components are among the most reliable forensic indicators of a hail event. Aluminum pipe boots, ridge vents, gutters, and downspouts dent when struck by hail measuring 1.5 inches or larger — the threshold at which functional shingle damage reliably occurs. These dents are unambiguous evidence because they don't develop from weathering; they date to the impact. An inspection report that documents both the shingle impact pattern and the corresponding metal damage is the strongest basis for an insurance claim.
Ground-level signs you can check yourself: heavy granule accumulation in your gutters after a storm is a meaningful indicator of widespread granule displacement. Granules in gutters happen during normal weathering, but a post-storm volume significantly above normal suggests a hail event worth inspecting. Dark spots visible from the street on lighter-colored shingles sometimes indicate impact areas, but most damage requires close-up evaluation.
Gutters and drainage are part of every inspection we perform — not a separate service. We assess gutter capacity relative to the roof drainage area, check slopes and outlet sizing, inspect all seams and end caps for integrity, verify downspout extensions discharge water away from the foundation, and look for staining patterns on fascia that indicate overflow during heavy rain. Gutters that are functioning correctly are the last line of defense against water intrusion at the foundation; gutters that are undersized, improperly sloped, or partially blocked create real risk.
We also assess whether the existing gutter system is appropriate for the roof's drainage load. Many older homes in Chicagoland were built with gutters sized for the original low-slope rooflines; subsequent additions or steeper replacement roofs sometimes mean the gutters can't handle peak flow during a heavy rain event. We note this in inspection reports and provide options if replacement or upsizing is needed.
After every inspection, you get a direct verbal briefing on what we found — on-site, before we leave your property. If you want a written report, we produce one that includes photographs documenting each significant finding, a condition summary organized by roof system component, and clear recommendations with honest context: what needs attention now, what can wait, and what's fine as-is. We also note estimated remaining useful life for the shingle system, which is useful for planning and for real estate transactions.
If the inspection reveals legitimate hail damage, we'll tell you what we found and what threshold the damage meets. We can prepare a written report formatted for insurance adjuster review, attend your adjuster inspection to walk through our findings, and document the scope of work required. If the damage doesn't cross the insurance claim threshold, we'll tell you that too — because filing a borderline claim can affect your insurance history, and because our business runs on long-term trust in the communities we serve.
If there's no damage and no work needed, we'll tell you when to call us back. That's the honest answer, and it's the only one we give.
Most hail damage to asphalt shingles is not visible from the ground. The damage pattern — circular impact points with granule displacement, bruised mat fibers, dented metal components — requires close-up inspection by someone who knows what to look for. Signs you can check yourself include heavy granule accumulation in your gutters after a storm, dents on aluminum vents or downspouts, and dark spots on the shingle surface. But these are indicators, not a diagnosis. A licensed contractor needs to get on the roof and probe individual impact points to assess whether the damage crosses the threshold for an insurance claim.
Our standard inspection is free for homeowners who are considering a project or evaluating potential storm damage. We charge for detailed written inspection reports that are prepared for pre-purchase transactions, landlord documentation, or insurance baseline purposes — the fee for a documented report is $150 to $250 depending on roof size and complexity. We'll tell you upfront which applies to your situation.
No — get the inspection first. When you file a claim, your insurer sends an adjuster who produces a scope. Whatever that scope says becomes your baseline. Having a contractor's written inspection report before the adjuster arrives means you walk into that visit with your own documentation. You can point out specific items the adjuster should evaluate, and you have independent documentation if there's a dispute about scope. Filing first without documentation can put you at a disadvantage.
A standard residential inspection takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on roof size, complexity, and what we find. A simple ranch with a single-plane roof takes less time than a two-story home with multiple planes, dormers, and a chimney. Commercial inspections typically take longer and are scheduled with more lead time. After the inspection, we discuss findings with you on-site before we leave.
Yes. We inspect commercial flat-roof systems — TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, and built-up — in addition to residential. Commercial inspections include membrane condition, seam integrity, drain and scupper function, penetration flashing details, parapet wall cap status, and overall drainage adequacy. We work with property managers and building owners throughout Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties.
No obligation. We'll come out, look it over, and tell you exactly what we see.