Inspect Roof, Gutters, Downspouts, and Water Discharge

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one complete, non-invasive inspection of one accessible residential roof-drainage system, covering roof covering, flashing, gutters, downspouts, and discharge, performed entirely from safe observation points, producing one roof-drainage inspection record.

B. Inspection Route Schedule

Segment	Areas Covered	Primary Purpose
Preparation and access review	Roof age, covering type, prior leaks, repairs, warranties, drainage plan, weather, and roof-walking authorization	Confirm the inspection can proceed safely and within scope
Roof planes and penetrations	Roof planes, eaves, rakes, valleys, ridges, hips, chimneys, skylights, vents, and plumbing stacks	Identify visible roof-covering and flashing defects
Gutters	Debris, corrosion, holes, joints, sag, slope, hangers, and overflow evidence	Identify gutter conditions affecting water capture
Downspouts and discharge	Sections, seams, straps, blockage evidence, and traced discharge points	Verify water is carried away from the structure
Interior correlation	Exterior walls, soffits, fascia, ceilings, and upper-room finishes	Identify related staining or moisture evidence, labeled unconfirmed

C. Records and Reference Takeoff

• Records to collect before entry: roof age, covering type, number of roof areas, prior leaks, repairs, warranties, drainage plan, and recent weather.
• Roof-Drainage Inspection worksheet: one copy, used to record every finding, limitation, and referral generated by this inspection.
• Photograph index: maintained alongside the worksheet, linking each finding identifier to its overview and close photograph.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Access authorization	Roof-walking authorization is confirmed in writing before any elevated observation, and no roof is walked without it
Route coverage	Every roof plane, gutter run, and downspout visible from a safe observation point is inspected and photographed
Finding completeness	Every recorded finding has a unique identifier, location, observed condition, priority category, recommended next action, and photo reference
Discharge verification	Every traced downspout's discharge point is recorded as directed away from the foundation or flagged as a defect
Observation/interpretation separation	No finding states a remaining service-life estimate, structural diagnosis, or confirmed leak source not supported by a prior report or qualified professional
Limitations recorded	Every inaccessible, concealed, obstructed, unsafe, or excluded roof area is listed, with no statement that it is satisfactory
Immediate-hazard handling	Any immediate roof, chimney, or drainage hazard is referred to the appropriate qualified professional before the inspection is filed

E. Preparation — Records, Weather, and Access Planning

1. Review available roof and drainage records. Record roof age if known, covering type, slope, number of roof areas, prior leaks, repairs, warranties, drainage plan, and recent weather.
2. Confirm the inspection scope and roof-walking authorization. Record whether roof walking is excluded or separately authorized for this property before proceeding.
3. Check weather and site conditions. Record wind, precipitation, temperature, lightning, roof-surface condition, and daylight before beginning exterior observation.
4. Select safe observation points. Choose ground, window, balcony, ladder, camera-pole, binocular, or other approved remote observation points for the property's roof configuration.
5. Establish exclusion zones. Set up public and ladder exclusion zones wherever elevated access is used for observation.
6. Confirm the roof is not accessed under unsafe conditions. Do not access a roof that is wet, icy, snow-covered, brittle, damaged, steep, contaminated, or outside the approved fall-protection plan.

F. Roof Plane and Penetration Inspection

1. Photograph each roof plane and drainage component. Capture every roof plane, eave, rake, valley, penetration, chimney, wall intersection, gutter run, downspout, and discharge point visible from safe locations.
2. Identify the roof covering material and pattern. Record the visible installation pattern without assigning remaining service life solely from appearance.
3. Inspect the roof surface for visible defects. Note missing, displaced, cracked, curled, blistered, punctured, worn, or debris-covered roofing.
4. Inspect ridges, hips, valleys, and penetrations. Cover visible ridges, hips, valleys, eaves, rakes, roof-wall intersections, chimneys, skylights, vents, plumbing stacks, and other penetrations.
5. Identify flashing and fastener defects. Note exposed fasteners, failed sealant, loose flashing, damaged boots, open joints, corrosion, staining, biological growth, and temporary patches.

G. Gutter, Downspout, and Discharge Inspection

1. Inspect gutters from a safe location. Note debris, vegetation, standing water, corrosion, holes, loose joints, sag, poor slope, detached hangers, and overflow evidence, along with gutter attachment and fascia condition.
2. Inspect downspouts. Note missing sections, open seams, crushed areas, loose straps, blockage evidence, reverse slope, and disconnected underground drains.
3. Trace each downspout to its discharge point where accessible. Follow the visible path from downspout outlet to final discharge.
4. Verify discharge direction. Confirm discharge is directed through an approved path away from the foundation and does not create erosion, icing, ponding, neighbor impacts, or walkway hazards.
5. Inspect discharge components. Check splash blocks, extensions, leaders, underground connections, catch basins, and outlets for position and visible function.

H. Correlation, Referral, and Documentation

1. Correlate exterior evidence with interior finishes. Inspect exterior walls, soffits, fascia, ceilings, attic access areas, and upper-room finishes for related staining or moisture evidence, labeling any suspected roof source as unconfirmed until verified.
2. Identify immediate conditions. Note active leakage, loose overhead material, blocked primary drainage, unsafe chimney components, or major storm damage as immediate referral conditions.
3. Refer conditions beyond this chapter's scope. Direct roofing, flashing, structural, chimney, electrical, or high-access concerns to the appropriate qualified professional.
4. Record every finding. Note roof plane or elevation, component, observed condition, priority, photograph, and next action for each finding.

I. Closeout and Recordkeeping

1. Record inaccessible or concealed roof areas and observation limitations.
2. Update the property maintenance log. Include inspection date, weather, findings, referrals, and recommended reinspection condition.
3. File the completed inspection. Store the roof-drainage inspection record, photographs, and any immediate-hazard notifications in the property record established in Chapter 2.