| Observed sign | Where to see it safely | What it may signal |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles on the ground or shingle pieces in the gutters | From the ground, walking around the house | Torn-off covering or advanced wear |
| Lifted or curled shingles, bare patches | From the ground with binoculars | Possible water entry points at the next rain |
| Water stains or rings on the top-floor ceiling | From indoors, room by room | Active infiltration already underway: fast intervention needed |
| Moisture, stains or mould on the roof underside | In the attic, headlamp on, without stepping on structural insulation | Recent or chronic water entry to locate |
Always start from the ground
After a storm, the urge to “go see” is strong. Resist it: most useful clues read from the ground. Walk the full perimeter of the house looking for torn-off shingles, covering fragments, nails and plant debris gathered near walls and downspouts.
With binoculars, sweep the slopes visible from the street or yard: missing, lifted or curled shingles, flashing displaced around the chimney and skylights, damaged starter courses. You do not need a perfect diagnosis: only to know whether something is off.
Keep in mind that safety dictates the pace: a wet, leaf-covered or iced roof slides like thin ice. Serious roofing accidents happen almost exclusively to people going up “just for five minutes”. No observation is worth a fall.
What the inside of the house tells you too
The roof shows itself indoors first. Review the top-floor ceilings for rings, blistering paint or warping finishes. A fresh stain after a storm often says more than any look at the shingles.
Then head to the attic, if access exists, with a headlamp: look for moisture on the roof underside, dark stains on the wood, compacted or discoloured insulation. Stay on the surfaces meant for circulation: a poorly supported attic floor shows no mercy.
Cross-reference your findings: a ceiling stain on the north side plus lifted shingles on the north side already sketch a coherent story. Those details, noted and photographed, will save the assessing professional precious time.
Why the climb belongs to professionals
Walking a pitch, spotting weaknesses hidden under the covering, working at height with a proper harness and anchors: these are not homeowner moves, they are trade moves. In Quebec, roof replacement and repair belong to a verified RBQ-licenced contractor.
Even seasoned professionals postpone their climbs after a storm: unstable surface, loose materials, residual wind or icing. If an experienced roofer waits for things to dry, the waiting means something: follow their example.
Lastly, climbing yourself can complicate what follows: a shingle broken underfoot becomes impossible to distinguish from storm damage, and some warranties require that interventions remain in authorized hands. Stay on the ground, document, call.
Documenting before reaching out
Take timestamped photos of every clue: ground debris, binocular views of the slopes, indoor stains, gutter condition. Shoot wide first, then close-up. Those images form the basis of any conversation with a contractor or insurer.
Record the storm date, observed conditions (wind, freezing rain, hail) and the timeline of indoor stains appearing, if applicable. A clean file turns a vague conversation into a targeted assessment.
Then contact a verified RBQ-licenced contractor for the full inspection and quote. Any estimate given over the phone remains an indicative range to be confirmed on site: that is normal, and precisely why your photos and notes matter so much.
Verified and sourced
Verified on September 27, 2026
Official sources
What these numbers do not cover
No remote check is reliable on a damaged roof; inspection belongs to a verified RBQ-licensed contractor.