Roof Inspection
Roof Inspection in Lakewood, CO
Roof inspection in Lakewood, CO is how you find out what your roof actually needs before you spend money on it. We walk the roof, look at the deck from the attic side where we can get in, and photograph every problem area, then give you a written report with an honest read on remaining life and whether repair or replacement is the right call. That matters here, because the typical Lakewood home was built in 1977 and most roofs are on their second or third cycle. Call Roof Authority LLC at (720) 817-3348.
Service overview
What a roof inspection covers in Lakewood
An inspection covers the whole system, not just the shingles. We check field shingles for granule loss, bruising and curling, flashing at chimneys, valleys and penetrations, pipe boots, ridge vent and intake ventilation, gutters and downspouts, and the deck and framing from the attic side. We also look for the Lakewood-specific problems: hail bruising after a storm, ice dam staining at the eaves, and ventilation that is cooking shingles from underneath.
You get the findings in writing, with photos and measurements in squares, so the report is useful beyond our visit: for a home purchase, for an insurance claim after hail, or for planning a replacement on your own schedule. Under Colorado law SB 12-038, a roofer may document damage, prepare a scope and meet the adjuster on site, but may not negotiate the claim or act as a public adjuster. An inspection after hail gives the adjuster something concrete to work from. For how often to schedule one, see our guide to inspection frequency in Lakewood.
Practical benefits
Why an inspection first saves money
A roof is the most expensive part of a house to guess about. An inspection replaces the guess with a report.
Remaining life, stated plainly
Front Range market guides cite roughly 13 to 17 years for architectural shingles under Lakewood hail, UV and freeze-thaw. An inspection tells you where your roof sits in that range, with photos, instead of a round number from a driveway.
Hail damage documented properly
Hail bruising is easy to miss from the ground and easy to overstate from a ladder. We photograph bruising, granule loss and collateral damage to gutters and vents, which is what an adjuster needs to see.
Ventilation and ice dam risks found early
A hot attic cooks shingles from underneath and feeds ice dams in winter. We check intake and exhaust balance and look for the staining that says ice dams have already been at work.
A repair-or-replace answer you can use
The report ends with a clear call: repair now, plan a replacement, or leave it alone and recheck next year. If a repair will honestly buy you three more years, the report says so.
How service works
How a roof inspection runs
Five steps, from the first walk to the written report, with photos at every stage.
STEP 01
Roof walk
We walk every slope we can safely reach, checking field shingles, flashing, valleys, penetrations, ridge vent and gutters. Hail bruising, granule loss and lifted shingles all get photographed where we find them.
Tools and methods
Tools and methods we use on inspections
Extension ladder and stabilizer
Safe access to the roof and the eaves, with a stabilizer that keeps the ladder off the gutters. No inspection is worth a fall.
Camera and photo record
Every problem area gets photographed, because a report without photos is an opinion. The photos are also what an adjuster works from after hail.
Moisture meter
Checks the deck and attic framing for damp the eye misses, so hidden rot gets found before it becomes a replacement.
Tape measure
Measures the roof in squares and the damaged areas in square feet, which decides whether a future repair needs a City permit.
Binoculars
For slopes and details that cannot be walked safely, binoculars from the ground give a close look without risking the roof or the inspector.
Flashlight
The attic side of an inspection needs light in the corners, where staining and daylight show up first.
Chalk and marking paint
Marks problem areas on the roof so the repair crew finds the same spots the inspector found, without a second search.
Notebook and checklist
A written checklist keeps the inspection consistent from roof to roof, so nothing gets skipped on a big or complex roof.
Leaf blower
Clears debris from valleys and gutters during the inspection, so the drainage underneath can actually be seen.
Where this service fits
When to schedule a roof inspection
After a hailstorm
Hail season runs mid-April to September with a May to July peak, and the 8 May 2017 storm showed what Lakewood hail can do. An inspection after a storm documents bruising and granule loss while the evidence is fresh. Our hail damage spotting guide shows what to look for from the ground.
Before buying a home
Lakewood's median home was built in 1977, so the roof on a purchase is often on its second or third cycle. An inspection report with remaining life and photos is the document a buyer actually needs.
Before selling a home
An inspection before listing answers the roof question before the buyer's inspector asks it, and a clean report with a plan is easier to negotiate around than a surprise.
Every year or two, as maintenance
A regular inspection catches cracked boots, loose flashing and granule loss while they are still small repairs. Spring, after hail season starts, and autumn, before freeze-thaw, are the sensible windows.
Local execution
Inspections across Lakewood neighbourhoods
The inspection changes with the house. A wartime bungalow, a 1970s ranch, a townhome and a foothills slope each hide different problems, and the inspector needs to know where to look. Here is what we watch for, area by area.
Inspections turn up different things in different neighbourhoods, from 1940s decking to townhome roofs. The area pages set out what to expect — see our locations page.
Problems we solve
Problems an inspection finds early
Most expensive roof problems start as small ones an inspection would have caught. These are the four we find most often.
Hail bruising you cannot see from the ground
Hail bruises shingles and knocks granules loose without tearing anything off. From the ground the roof looks fine; on the roof, the bruising is obvious, and the photos prove it for a claim.
Cracked pipe boots
UV at 5,500 feet dries out rubber boots, and a cracked boot leaks a little at first and a lot later. An inspection finds the crack before the deck under it rots.
Failed flashing at chimneys and valleys
Flashing works loose with freeze-thaw, and water gets behind it long before the stain appears inside. The inspection catches the gap while the fix is still a repair.
Ventilation that is cooking the roof
A hot attic shortens shingle life from underneath and feeds ice dams in winter. The inspection checks intake and exhaust balance and looks for the staining that says the attic is too warm.
Need help?(720) 817-3348
A practical standard for every visit.
Clear planningPrepared arrivalsCareful workLocal follow-through
Experience in the details
A Lakewood roofer you can check
An inspection report from a roofer you can check is worth more than a verbal opinion from one you cannot — ours is on the About page, registration and reviews included. Reports come with photos and measurements in squares.
Where we work
One local team. A lot of ground covered.
Notes from local customers
What Lakewood Homeowners Say
We had several roofing contractors inspect our roof after a recent hail storm. Keith was the most professional and knowledgeable of them all. He worked well with our insurance company, was there for the insurance adjuster's visit to our home, and his friendly crew replaced our roof in one day! They did a thorough cleanup afterward. Keith also noticed a hail damaged gutter that needed replacing and took care of that also. He also replaced four hail damaged window screens at no charge. We would highly recommend Roof Authority LLC to anybody needing a hail damaged roof repaired or replaced!
Shortly after a horrible hail storm, Keith from Roof Authority LLC provided a free inspection of our roof and suggested replacement of the roof and gutters, as well as replacement of one window screen. He worked with the insurance company and ushered through the claims' submission. On the scheduled day, the crew replaced the entire roof and gutters in one day! After completion of the project, Keith inspected the job and discovered one missing shingle which he replaced the same day also. Overall, working with Roof Authority has been very positive. We have recommended Roof Authority, LLC to our friends. Thank you Keith!
Roof Authority, LLC (Keith Merritt) has done numerous roofing jobs for our family. I first met him over 15 years ago when he presented himself with integrity & enthusiasm while replacing a roof for my mother. That job was flawless, was done under budget and took less time than expected. It is because of that first experience that I have used Keith's expertise over and over again since. Following a bad hail storm in 2021, after 2 other roofers presented fancy quotes, Keith came, inspected our roof and said he'd make it happen with our insurance claim. He walked through the process with us, was there to do the heavy lifting and was onsite to supervise the roofers as they worked. While the roof was being replaced, Keith noticed a few other issues with our home that he'd forgotten to mention in his estimate, and took care of them without any additional charges. Keith and his crew are polite and modest and really do a job that lasts!
Published Denver market figures put a standard inspection around $131 to $426, with certification inspections higher. Those are market figures, not this company's prices. What matters more than the number is what the inspection includes: a roof walk, an attic-side look, photos and a written report with measurements and a recommendation.
Once a year is a sensible rhythm here, plus an inspection after any significant hailstorm, since hail season runs mid-April to September with a May to July peak. Spring catches winter damage before hail season, and autumn catches hail damage before freeze-thaw. A roof near the end of its service life deserves a closer watch.
Yes, that is the point of it. The report gives you remaining life with photos, and a clear call: repair now, plan a replacement, or recheck next year. If a repair will honestly buy you three more years, the report says so instead of pushing a replacement.
It is the best-value step on a purchase here. Lakewood's median home was built in 1977, so the roof is often on its second or third cycle, and a general home inspection does not walk the roof the way a roofing inspection does. The report gives you remaining life, photos and a scope you can negotiate around.
Keep exploring
Related Services
Your next step is waiting
Find out what your roof actually needs
Call (720) 817-3348, Monday to Saturday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We will walk the roof, look from the attic side, and give you a written report with photos and an honest read on remaining life.
Start with the basics
Contact Roof Authority LLC
Buying, selling, or just wondering how much life your roof has left? Call Roof Authority LLC at (720) 817-3348. We are at 200 Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80228, and we answer the phone Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sunday we are closed.