Roofing punch list
A roofing punch list is the final check of a roof replacement: details still to finish, defects to fix and the site clean-up. A roofing punch list is mostly about what the homeowner can't see from the ground. Check the roof surface if climbing the roof is safe, then the gutters, the attic and the yard. A roof that looks finished from the street can still be missing a flashing detail. The JobsiteHQ roofing punch list below has 15 checks in 5 areas, ready to print.
Roof surface
- Shingles lying flat, no lifted tabs, no exposed nails.
- Starter course and drip edge along the eaves and rakes.
- Ridge cap complete and sealed; ridge vent fastened and open.
Flashing and penetrations
- Step and counter flashing at walls and chimneys, sealed.
- Pipe boots seated and sealed, not cracked.
- Valleys finished as specified, clean and open.
- Skylights flashed with no gaps, dry inside.
Gutters and edges
- Gutters cleared of granules and debris, sloped to the downspouts.
- Downspouts connected and carrying water away from the foundation.
- Fascia undamaged by the tear-off.
Attic and ventilation
- Intake and exhaust vents open; insulation not blocking the soffit vents.
- No daylight through the deck except at vents; no new stains on the sheathing.
Site clean-up
- Magnetic sweep done on the driveway, lawn, beds and walks.
- Landscaping, AC unit and windows undamaged.
- Dumpster gone, driveway undamaged.
How do you use this checklist?
Print the 15-check roofing punch list from JobsiteHQ, or keep the page open on your phone, and walk the job in the order of the sections. Tick each line once you've checked the work. Anything that needs work goes on your own list, with the room and what's wrong. Hand your list to the trade who fixes the items, then walk the fixed items again.
How do you run the final walkthrough?
Check the roof surface if climbing the roof is safe, then the gutters, the attic and the yard. The 5 areas of the JobsiteHQ checklist above follow the same route.
- Check the attic after the next rain if you can. A dry attic after rain is the most reliable proof the flashing works.
- Run the magnetic sweeper 2 times, in 2 directions. A nail in a tire is how a client remembers the job.
- Take photos of every flashing detail and penetration into the job in JobsiteHQ before you leave. The photos are the roofer's record of work nobody else will see.
- Walk the yard in a grid, in strips about 3 feet apart, not a loop. Nails hide in grass and beds, and a grid covers ground a loop misses.
What gets missed on a roof replacement?
On a roof replacement, the misses are mostly the spots nobody looks at on the way out. The 6 items below are the ones that come back as a call after the final invoice.
- Kick-out flashing
- Where a roof edge meets a wall, a kick-out flashing turns water into the gutter. Without a kick-out flashing, water runs into the wall.
- Dishes and antennas
- Mounts taken off for the tear-off need to go back sealed. Check the old holes were sealed too.
- Fan vents
- Bath and kitchen exhaust fans must still reach the roof caps after the new deck goes on. Check the ducts weren't left loose in the attic.
- Gutter guards
- Gutter guards taken off for the tear-off need to go back on. Check every gutter guard is seated and not trapping granules.
- Drip edge at the gutters
- The drip edge should sit over the back of the gutter, so water can't run behind the gutter. Check along every eave - all 4 on a hip roof, both on a gable.
- Chimney crickets
- A chimney wider than 30 inches needs a cricket on the uphill side under most US codes. Check the cricket is there, flashed and clear of debris.
How do you close out the punch list?
Closing out a roofing punch list means finishing every open item, showing the client the finished work, and handing over what the client needs to look after the work. The 3 steps below come before the final invoice.
- Photograph the flashing, boots and vents before you leave.
- Give the homeowner the shingle and warranty details.
- Offer to look in the attic after the first heavy rain.
Skip the clipboard
Walk the roof replacement with JobsiteHQ open and say what you see, room by room. JobsiteHQ writes the punch list, sorted by area, for you to check over, then turns the list into a client summary, an estimate and an invoice. JobsiteHQ works with no signal.
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Questions
- Can a roof punch list be done from the ground?
- A roof punch list can be done partly from the ground. Gutters, edges, clean-up and the attic can be checked from below. Flashing, pipe boots and ridge details need someone on the roof or a close look through binoculars or a drone.
- When should the attic be checked after a new roof?
- Check the attic within a day or 2 of the first good rain on a new roof. Look for new stains on the sheathing, wet insulation or drips at the nail tips.
- Should the homeowner be on the walkthrough?
- The homeowner should be on the ground part of the roofing walkthrough. Show the homeowner the 3 things visible from below: the clean-up, the gutters and the attic. Share photos of what's on the roof.
- What if the decking under the old roof was damaged?
- Note how many sheets of roof decking were replaced and where - '6 sheets of OSB, back slope'. Replaced decking is often billed as an extra, so the client should see the decking on the punch list and the invoice.
- What should the homeowner get at the end?
- The homeowner should get 3 things at the end of a roof job: photos of the flashing and penetrations, the shingle make and color, and the warranty details. Keep copies with the job.