Planning to have your roof inspected? Don’t be surprised when your roofer asks to look at your attic.
While the attic may seem unrelated at first glance, it’s actually one of the most important steps of replacing a roof. Checking the attic allows roofers to see potential problems in sheathing, insulation, or mold, which means they can provide more accurate estimates to homeowners. In fact, some contractors will purposely ignore the attic so that they can charge for damaged decks after the project has already begun, knowing that the owner can’t say no.
As roofing professionals who have conducted thousands of attic inspections, Equity Roofing has seen firsthand why this step is crucial for accurate estimates and homeowner protection. While not all contractors include attic inspections in their process, understanding why reputable roofers do this can help you make better decisions about your roof replacement.
By the end of this article, you’ll know:
This way, you can confidently choose a roofer who’s upfront and thorough from day one.
Your roofer isn’t going into your attic to snoop (and we promise that none of us judge the mess.) A good crew is looking for the following:
The sheathing is the wooden boards or plywood under your shingles. Roofers check:
If they can see problems from the attic, they can include them in your quote right away.
Your attic needs proper airflow to stay healthy. Without it, you get:
Good ventilation lets air flow in through the edges of your roof and out through vents at the top. Roofers will make sure your insulation isn’t covering the air vents around the edges of your attic.
Many homes have bathroom fans that blow hot, wet air straight into the attic instead of outside. Over time, this moisture causes mold and wood rot. Roofers will check these vents to make sure they're not a problem for your home.
Attics are often forgotten, save for when it’s time to store away more boxes. The unintentional neglect leads to problems uncovered during our initial visits with homeowners.
One homeowner had planned for a simple metal roof replacement and brought us in for a quote. But looking in the attic revealed old wood shakes underneath the metal. This discovery added about 30% more work and cost to remove the extra layer.
With the heads up, the owner was able to plan ahead and move their project date to a time that worked best for their finances.
Multiple home inspection and roofing industry sources warn that skipping the attic check often leads to high-cost surprises, hidden mold or structural hazards, and inaccurate project quotes.
For instance, a supplier of home inspections notes that attic issues like leaks and mold can be addressed cheaply if found early; otherwise, they become far more expensive once exposed. Attic inspections routinely flag concerns such as mold, rot, poor ventilation, and compromised structure. These present serious threats to the health and safety of homeowners.
Contractors who don’t inspect the attic risk underestimating repair costs. Notably, one report found that moisture-related issues account for up to 75% of building defects, especially in roofing systems.
A quality inspection should include both the roof surface and the attic whenever possible. For roofs that are unsafe to walk on, drones can be used as an alternative.
Your contractor should also:
Red flags include roofers who won't go into the attic or don't take photos of their findings.
There are several reasons why roofers might skip this important step. Attics can be hard to get into easily. Crawling through them is uncomfortable work and takes more time during what is usually a free inspection.
Beyond this, some contractors simply don’t understand the importance of checking an attic before beginning roof work. Since the majority of attics don’t have issues, they disregard them. The problem is that even though skipping the attic might work out fine most of the time, when problems do exist, ignoring them is a disservice to the homeowner.
A free quote without a full inspection is basically an educated guess about the cost of your roof. It's based only on what the roofer can see from outside (or from the ground, which is even worse). Contractors might present a low quote, knowing full well that there’s a good chance the cost will increase once work begins.
A full Inspection includes going on the roof, checking the attic, taking photos, and documenting all findings. Quotes made from a proper inspection are much more accurate and less likely to change.
Most roof inspections are free when you're planning to replace your roof. However, there are situations when a roof inspection may be a charged service, often around $300. This includes:
Some companies will credit the inspection fee toward your roof replacement if you hire them for the work.
When setting up an inspection with your roofer, verify that they’ll be thorough by asking the following questions:
If they brush off questions about surprise costs, ask them to put their limits in writing. Find out exactly how much extra work they'll cover without additional charges.
A proper attic inspection is one of the most important (and overlooked) steps in a roof replacement. It ensures you get accurate estimates, prevents hidden damage from blowing your budget, and helps catch health and safety hazards before they become costly nightmares.
Remember, the biggest financial shocks during a roof replacement often come from problems no one looked for. By allowing your roofer to check the attic before work starts, you protect yourself from unexpected costs, delays, and unpleasant surprises.
Your next step is to establish the four essential things every roofing contract should include, giving you the power to compare bids fairly and avoid “too good to be true” pricing. You can find this in our guide, "What to Expect With a New Roof Replacement."
Understanding these inspection practices helps you evaluate any roofing contractor. At Equity Roofing, we believe informed homeowners make better decisions, which is why we've shared these insights. Whether you work with us or another qualified contractor, these guidelines will help ensure you receive transparent, comprehensive service.