GetAPro LLC
This roof inspection in Skokie, IL was requested by the homeowner for peace of mind after replacing the roof two to three months earlier, following a previous leak. The new work held up well: fresh plywood sheathing was visible in the attic, the chimney had been repointed, and no signs of active leaking were found. Of the 12 items inspected, 7 were maintenance items and 3 were recommendations, no safety hazards, mostly items unrelated to the new roof itself.
A New Roof, and a Good Report Card
This homeowner replaced the roof about two to three months before this inspection, after the old one had developed a leak, and asked for a peace-of-mind check to confirm everything was installed correctly. The results were reassuring: new plywood sheathing was visible in the attic where the old decking had been replaced, the chimney had been freshly repointed, and we found no signs of an active leak at the time of inspection. The shingles themselves are in excellent condition, as expected for a roof this new. Overall, this was a well-executed reroofing job.
Roof Covering and Ice Barrier Protection
With the roof so recently redone, we'd still recommend getting written confirmation or photos from the roofing contractor showing that a proper ice and water barrier was installed at the roof's edge, since this area has a known history of ice dams along lower roof edges, and that shield can only be verified before the shingles go down. Since the job is recent, the contractor should have this documentation readily available. Tree branches were also found touching or overhanging the roof in places and should be trimmed back, unrelated to the reroof itself but worth doing to protect the new shingles from premature wear.
Drainage
The gutters had some debris buildup, an easy DIY cleaning job, and one gutter section had a cosmetic dent that doesn't affect function. The more notable item here is a downspout discharging directly onto the lower roof section instead of away from the house, concentrating water flow onto an area not designed to handle it. This is a drainage routing issue rather than anything related to the new roof covering, but worth having redirected.
Eaves, Soffits, and Fascia
One or more sections of the fascia and soffit had open areas or penetrations, worth having a specialist take a closer look and seal up, since open gaps here give pests and moisture an easy way into the roof structure.
Attic Ventilation and Insulation
Soffit baffles, the channels that let air flow from the soffit vents up into the attic, were not visible or improperly installed on the north side. Without baffles doing their job, attic insulation can block that airflow and lead to condensation, which over time means moisture problems rather than just an efficiency loss. The attic scuttle cover was also missing insulation, a simple and inexpensive fix that stops conditioned air from escaping through that access point. Neither of these ties back to the reroof work, they're existing attic conditions worth addressing on their own.
Overall
With 12 items inspected and zero safety hazards, this inspection was good news for a homeowner who'd dealt with a leak before: the new roof covering, sheathing repairs, and chimney repointing all looked well done, with no signs of an active leak. The handful of maintenance items and recommendations found, the downspout, the baffles, the scuttle insulation, the tree branches, are all separate from the reroofing itself and straightforward to address on their own timeline.
