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Serving Ferry County

Snow and Ice Roof Inspection in Republic, WA

A post-winter roof inspection across Republic and Ferry County, checking sag, decking, flashing and ice damage.

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  • Snow load and ice on roofs
  • Wind and wildfire-season damage
  • Rural homes across Ferry County

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Snow and Ice Inspection

Snow and Ice Roof Inspection: what it covers

Quick answer

After a heavy winter the roof in Republic is read for sag, cracked decking, lifted flashing and ice damage. The county snow load is the reference, and each finding is measured and recorded so the owner knows what the winter did.

Snow and Ice Roof Inspection illustration for Republic, WA

A winter with deep, wet or long-lying snow can change a roof without leaving a mark that is obvious from the ground. The framing can take a permanent set, the deck can soften, the flashing can lift and the ice can have lifted tabs the owner has not seen. A spring inspection finds those changes while they are still small.

The Ferry County rules set a minimum roof snow load of 40 pounds per square foot, and suggest 55 pounds or more at elevations of 3,000 feet and above. The inspection uses those figures as the reference, because they are what the roof was designed to carry.

Service area
Republic & Ferry County
Availability
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Warning signs

Signs you need snow and ice roof inspection

Do not walk a snow-covered or icy roof for an inspection. Use a safe access, do not stand on a roof edge, and do not climb onto a roof with a soft or sagging section.

  • A ridge or a rafter line that has dropped since the autumn
  • Doors or windows that have started to stick
  • Cracks at the wall-to-ceiling line on the top floor
  • Lifted tabs or cracked shingles along the eave
  • Water stains or wet insulation in the attic after the thaw
Our process

How our snow and ice roof inspection visit works

  1. Read the attic against the autumn

    The attic is read for changes since the autumn: a sag in a rafter, a new crack in a brace, staining on the deck, wet insulation and any sign of ice. The readings are compared with the photographs from the last visit where they exist.

  2. Walk the roof and its edges

    The roof is walked where it is safe, and the edges, valleys and penetrations are checked for lifted and cracked covering. Where the roof is not safe to walk, the check is made from a ladder at the eave and from the ground.

  3. Measure the sag and the deck

    Any sag is measured at fixed points with a string line. The deck is probed at the eave and at the valleys, where the soft spots collect.

  4. Report the findings and the order of repair

    The owner receives a written list with each finding, its location, its measurement and whether it needs repair before the next winter, soon, or only watching.

What the inspection measures

The check measures the sag, the deck and the moisture, rather than giving a general impression.

A sag is a number, not an impression. The crew sets a string line at the ridge and measures the drop at fixed points along each rafter line. The measurements are kept so the next inspection can compare the same points and show whether the roof is still moving.

The deck is probed at the same points, and any soft board is marked on the sketch. Moisture is recorded with the attic temperature and the state of the insulation. The three readings together show where the winter has done its work.

  • Sag measured at fixed points
  • Deck probed at the same points
  • Moisture recorded with attic temperature

Reading the ice damage

Ice damage shows in the lifted covering and the wet attic, often after the ice has gone.

By spring the ice has melted, and the marks it left are what the inspection reads. A tab that has been pushed up by ice, a flashing that has been levered off the wall and a line of granules in the gutter are the common signs. The crew reads those marks and links them to the eave or the valley where the ice was.

The attic under the ice is often the best record. Ice stains on the underside of the deck and frozen insulation show where the water got in, even when the covering above looks sound.

  • Lifted tabs and levered flashing noted
  • Granules in the gutter read as a sign
  • Attic staining linked to the eave

Timing the inspection

The best time is after the snow has gone and before the roof has had the next season of wear.

A spring inspection, after the last deep snow and before the summer heat, reads the winter damage without the snow hiding it. The crew can also see the roof before the autumn, so repairs can be done while the roof is dry and the weather allows.

A mid-winter check is possible where the roof is safe to reach, but a snow-covered roof hides the eave and the valley. The crew says when a mid-winter check is useful and when it must wait.

  • Spring after snow has gone
  • Autumn for repairs in dry weather
  • Mid-winter only where safe to reach

From the report to the repair

The report sorts the findings into what must be fixed before the next winter and what can be watched.

A finding that is a sag growing across the season is a structural repair and is put first. A lifted tab at the eave is a covering repair and is next. A small stain in the attic with no growth is watched and recorded.

The owner decides the order with the report in hand. The crew does not add work that the findings do not support, and it records a finding that is not repaired so the next visit can see it.

  • Structural sag first
  • Lifted covering next
  • Small stains watched and recorded

Keeping the inspection record

A yearly record shows whether the roof is getting worse or holding.

The inspection record is kept with the house file. Each year the measurements and the photographs are added, so the owner can see the trend and not only the state of the roof on one day.

A roof that holds its readings from year to year is in good order. A roof whose readings move each spring is one that needs a closer look, and the record shows when that started.

  • Measurements added each year
  • Photographs kept with the record
  • Trend read across the years

Ceilings and walls below the roof

The ceilings and walls under the roof show the load and the leak even when the roof covering looks sound.

A ceiling that has cracked along a line of framing is often a sign of sag above, and the crack shows where the load has moved. A stain on an outside wall at the top floor is often the eave or the flashing above it. The inspection checks these from inside the house as well as from the attic.

The owner can help by pointing out any new crack, stain or door that has started to stick since the autumn. The crew notes each one and checks it against the roof and the attic.

  • Ceiling cracks along framing noted
  • Top-floor wall stains checked
  • Owner reports new cracks and sticking doors

Gutters, downspouts and the thaw path

The gutter and downspout show where the thaw water goes, and a blocked path shows where the water has been stopped.

The gutter and downspout path is followed from the eave to the ground. A downspout that is blocked at the bottom, or a gutter that has overflowed at a low point, shows where the thaw water has been held. The crew checks whether that water has run toward the foundation, since water held near the foundation can enter the house.

The finding is recorded with the spot where it occurred and the spot where the water went, so the owner can see the path and not only the blockage.

  • Downspout path followed to ground
  • Overflow points recorded
  • Water path toward foundation checked

Saying what is not known

An inspection that states what it could not see is more useful than one that guesses.

Some parts of a roof cannot be reached safely in snow or ice, and some parts of the attic are behind insulation or a ceiling. The record states each part the crew could not see or measure, and it says what would be needed to check it.

This keeps the report honest. A structural question that the crew could not measure is left open in the report, and the owner can arrange a further check at a safer time.

  • Unseen parts listed in the report
  • Further check described
  • Open questions left open

Insulation and the spring thaw

The thaw is the time to see where the insulation has been wet, because the wet shows after the snow goes.

Insulation that has been wet through the winter may show a dark or matted edge at the eave in the spring. The crew checks the insulation along the outside walls and records any section that is wet, compressed or frozen, because each one is a route for the heat to reach the eave again.

A damp insulation section is dried, replaced or left to be watched according to what is found, and the owner is told which applies.

  • Wet, matted or frozen insulation recorded
  • Eave routes for heat noted
  • Action stated for each section
Options

Types and options for snow and ice roof inspection

Structural check

The framing, the ridge and the rafter spans are measured against the county snow figure. A sag that has grown since the autumn is the priority finding.

Covering and flashing check

The shingles, the flashing, the vents and the ice barrier are checked for winter damage, and each lifted or cracked item is listed.

Attic and moisture check

The attic is checked for moisture, staining and insulation damage, and the source of any moisture is traced where it can be.

Ferry County

Why snow and ice roof inspection is different in Ferry County

The county snow figures are the reference for every inspection here, so the report states the figure used and the roof load it was checked against.

Ice damage in this county is often at the eave on the north or shaded side, where the snow stays longest. The inspection gives that side the closest look.

The attic is the most useful part of the inspection in a cold season, because the water and the frost show there first.

Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.

Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what snow and ice roof inspection should cost.

Call (833) 751-2102Get a quote
Where we work

Snow and Ice Roof Inspection across Ferry County

Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.

Related

Roof Snow Load Repair

Repairing roofs in Republic and the Ferry County towns that heavy snow has bent, cracked or sagged, checked against the county's roof snow load.

Roof Decking Repair

Finding and replacing soft or cracked roof sheathing across Republic and Ferry County after a heavy winter.

Ice Dam and Meltwater Repair

Clearing and preventing ice dams in Republic and Ferry County by fixing the eave, the ice barrier and the warm air leaking into the attic.

Shingle Roof Repair

Replacing cracked and lifted asphalt shingles across Republic and Ferry County, with the courses around each repair checked.

Guides

Read before you book

How does Ferry County set the roof snow load?

Ferry County sets a minimum roof snow load of 40 pounds per square foot countywide, and suggests 55 pounds per square foot or more at elevations of 3,000 feet and above.

FAQ

Snow and Ice Roof Inspection FAQs

When should I call for a snow inspection?

After the snow has melted in spring is the usual time. Call sooner if you see a new sag, a stuck door or a stain that is growing.

Does an inspection replace a repair?

No. An inspection finds and records the damage. The repair is a separate decision, and the owner decides on it with the report.

Will the inspection tell me if the roof is safe for next winter?

It reports what it finds and what it measured. It does not guarantee that the roof will carry any particular future load, and it says what is in need of repair.

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