Metal Roof Inspection Checklist: Free PDF Download

In this post, we share a free checklist for inspecting metal roofing systems. It includes the following sections:

• General job information 

• Exterior surface inspection 

• Roof structure and support system

• Roof components and accessories 

• Roof drainage and water management

• Signs of wear or potential future problems

• Safety concerns

• Maintenance recommendations

• Final remarks

Below, we’ll provide a link to download the checklist and begin using it in your roofing business.  

However, while this checklist is useful for inspectors to reference during inspections, PDF templates have some key limitations. 

For example:

• You can’t ensure they’re used for every job. This increases the chances of inspectors failing to spot potential issues and sales opportunities.

• PDFs don’t integrate with the other apps you use to run your business, such as your CRM, so it’s easy to lose records from inspections.

• The details of issues discovered during inspections can’t be easily shared between field & office staff, causing delays in any next actions (checking warranty or inventory information, drafting estimates, ordering materials, etc.).

So, in addition to sharing the free metal roof inspection checklist below, we’ll also walk through how our roofing contractor software, ServiceTitan, solves these challenges and more.

Metal Roof Inspection Checklist

At the top, there’s a section to document general information for the job, including the date, inspector name, company name, property address, installation date, and roof material type. 

Below that, the checklist is organized into the following sections:

Exterior Surface Inspection

Roof Panels

• Condition of Panels (No visible roof damage, scratches, or deformation)

• Proper Alignment of Panels (Straight and uniform appearance)

• Presence of Rust/Corrosion (Check for early signs of rust)

• Panel Paint/Coating Condition (No chipping or peeling)

• Fastener Tightness (Fasteners not loose or overtightened; no missing fasteners)

• Fastener Compatibility (Check material compatibility of fasteners with the metal panels)

• Signs of Leaks or Moisture Penetration

• Loose or Missing Panels (Ensure all panels are secure)

Roof Flashing

• Properly Installed Flashing (Secured with no gaps)

• Flashing Condition (No rust or damage)

• Correct Flashing Around Protrusions (Chimneys, vents, etc.)

• Signs of Water Infiltration Around Flashing

Roof Structure & Support System

Structural Integrity

• Roof Deck Condition (No signs of rot, warping, or weakening)

• No Visible Sagging in Roof Lines

• Trusses and Rafters (Check for cracks, splits, or warping)

• Load-Bearing Capacity of the Roof (No signs of overload or compromise)

Underlayment Inspection

• Underlayment Integrity (Check for tears, gaps, or deterioration)

• Proper Installation (Underlayment correctly installed without exposure)

Ventilation System

• Proper Ventilation System Installed (Ridge vents, soffit vents, etc.)

• Roof Vents Free from Obstruction (Ensure air circulation)

• No Leakage or Water Intrusion Around Vents

Roof Components & Accessories

Gutters and Downspouts

• Gutters Securely Attached (No loose sections or detachment from the roof)

• Gutters Clean and Free of Debris

• Proper Slope/Drainage (Gutters correctly pitched to prevent pooling)

• Downspouts Properly Directed (Ensure water is directed away from the foundation)

Roof Edge and Fascia

• Roof Edges (No rust, damage, or detachment)

• Fascia Condition (No signs of rot, mold, or deterioration)

Skylights, Chimneys, and Other Penetrations

• Seals Around Roof Penetrations (Ensure all seals are intact)

• Flashing and Sealing Materials Secure

• No Visible Signs of Leaks or Damage

Roof Drainage and Water Management

Drainage System Efficiency

• No Pooling of Water on Roof Surface

• Roof Slope (Proper drainage toward gutters/roof drain pipes)

Inspection of Valleys and Low Spots

• Valleys Free from Debris

• No Signs of Water Damage, Water Stains, or Standing Water/Ponding

Signs of Wear or Potential Future Problems

General Wear & Tear

• Check for Any Dents or Punctures

• Surface Scratches (That Could Lead to Corrosion)

• Panel Overlaps Properly Sealed and Secure

Expansion and Contraction

• Any Buckling or Warping of Panels (Indicates improper expansion/contraction)

• Adequate Spacing Between Panels to Allow for Expansion

• Visible Issues with Fasteners (Loose or Popped Fasteners)

Safety Concerns

Roof Safety

• Roof Free of Hazardous Conditions (Loose panels, sharp edges)

• Safety Features in Place (Guardrails, fall protection, etc., if needed)

Lightning Protection

• Metal Roof Properly Grounded (Check the condition of lightning rods, if applicable)

Roof Maintenance Recommendations

• Roof Requires Immediate Repairs (If Yes, List Specific Areas and Urgency Level)

• Suggested Timeline for Next Regular Inspection

• Recommended Maintenance Tasks (Cleaning, sealant application, etc.)

Final Remarks & Signatures

• General Comments/Notes:

• Overall Condition of Roof (Good, Fair, Poor):

• Recommended Repairs or Improvements

• The inspector's signature and date  

If followed, this inspection checklist can help ensure roofers thoroughly inspect a roof’s condition, spot potential problems, and recommend correct roof repairs. However, as we mentioned above, PDF or paper checklists have key limitations when it comes to:

• Ensuring these checklists are filled out on every single job.

• Storing and organizing inspection data.

• Sharing information about roof problems or sales opportunities between field and office staff.

Below, we’ll discuss how roofing software like ServiceTitan can help contractors address these challenges.

Improve Roofing Inspection Processes with ServiceTitan Custom Forms

ServiceTitan’s roofing software allows contractors to create versatile, customized forms, including roofing inspection checklists.

Users can create checklists and easily add them to specific jobs, customers, or locations. All forms can be accessed onsite via our mobile app (compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices), as well as by office staff via our desktop app. 

Once completed, all form data is automatically stored in the cloud, and accessible from the field and office. 

Forms can be built from scratch. But our users also enjoy the ability to create pre-built templates. These, too, can be customized to a given roofing shop's specific needs or preferences.  

Ensure Checklists Are Used for Every Inspection

In form settings, business owners can select the option to require techs to fill out certain forms for certain jobs. 

For example, if a roofer is on a routine repair visit, they can be required to complete your roofing inspection checklist before they’re able to mark the job as complete. Or, if a crew is installing a roof replacement or new roof, they can be required to complete an installation checklist and associated warranty forms before closing out the job. 

This fosters accountability through automation, reducing stress on owners and managers, while ensuring standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed in the field for every job. 

While having a flexible digital forms tool is an important asset for solving the challenges of static forms, the true value of software solutions like ServiceTitan lies in the combination of features that help to streamline workflows across field and office operations.

Facilitate Roof Measurement, Estimating & Material Orders

Spec-Based Estimates

ServiceTitan spec-based estimates offer a streamlined approach to estimate generation. This feature leverages pre-built templates and forms to automatically calculate material costs and quantities, resulting in accurate and efficient estimates for your customers.

Here's a breakdown of how Spec-Based Estimates work and their advantages:

• Forms and Templates: The process begins with creating a form tailored to your specific service, like reroofing. This form, accessible on both desktop and ServiceTitan Mobile, is used to gather crucial job details and measurements. This information is then fed into a Spec-Based Template, which links form fields with Pricebook items and applies predefined calculations. The template also allows you to offer different service tiers (Good, Better, Best) based on a single form submission.

• Automated calculations: The magic lies in the Excel file integrated with the template. This file houses the rules and calculations that determine material quantities and costs based on the form inputs. For instance, if a customer needs 20 squares of roofing, the template automatically calculates the required shingles, underlayment, and other associated materials, ensuring precise estimates.

• Efficiency and accuracy: Instead of manually calculating materials and costs, the system does it for you, freeing up your team to focus on customer interactions and other essential tasks. This automation not only speeds up the process but also eliminates the risk of human error, leading to accurate and consistent pricing.

• Mobile accessibility: The convenience of creating and presenting Spec-Based Estimates extends to ServiceTitan Mobile. This allows field staff to gather measurements on-site, complete the form, and generate estimates instantly, providing a seamless experience for both your team and your customers. 

Roofing Supplier Integrations

We offer integrations with roofing suppliers such as SRS Distribution, which auto-updates your pricebook with the most current pricing, product images, and descriptions. 

Integrate with Popular Roofing Measurement Apps

ServiceTitan now integrates with popular roofing apps like EagleView and GAF QuickMeasure. These integrations allow roofers to manage the entire job workflow, from the initial call to final estimates and material orders, offering a seamless experience between the business’s CRM and estimating/measurement tools.  

Other Ways ServiceTitan Helps Roofing Businesses Improve Efficiency & Profitability

Centralize Customer & Job Data (and Access It Anywhere)

ServiceTitan offers a customer relationship management (CRM) system to record, store, and access all of your job and customer data, beginning the moment a potential roofing customer calls in.

Our call booking functionality provides CSRs and office staff with the name and contact information of the incoming caller and prompts them to fill out a series of form fields that ensure they collect all of the necessary information to kick off a potential roofing job. 

From the booking page, they can view the availability of their sales team, assign a team member to the job, and schedule a visit if the business or homeowner agrees to have someone come out.

At that point, a customer page is automatically created in which their contact information and job details can be stored as the job progresses. This data can be shared and accessed from the office via our desktop application, as well as remotely from a job site or elsewhere through our user-friendly field mobile app (compatible with iOS and Android devices). 

Users also have the option to create a roofing project page in which financials can be tracked, appointments can be made, material orders can be placed, and other aspects of project management can be carried out.

Offer Modern and Impressive Customer Experiences

ServiceTitan offers a variety of features that help roofing businesses communicate professionalism and trustworthiness with their customers.

For example, our dispatching functionality includes text message notifications and Uber-style GPS tracking that keeps customers up-to-date about when sales reps, field supervisors, or crews are scheduled to arrive.

During the sales process, salespeople can offer prospects immediate financing, improving customer experiences while helping to close more sales.

Upon completing a job, companies can also offer convenient payment options — including cash, check, or credit card — right from their mobile device (iPhone, iPad, etc.). 

Gain More Visibility with Access to Real-Time Business Data

One of the biggest challenges for roofing contractors is getting timely and accurate financial data to track their cash flow and the overall health and performance of their business.

This is one area where ServiceTitan roofing software can deliver immense value. With ServiceTitan reporting, roofing contractors get a complete real-time view of their most important business KPIs, including:

• Sales numbers

• Revenue trends

• Booking and conversion rates

• And much more

They can also customize dashboards and create in-depth reports, allowing them to drill down into the sources of the numbers being reported in their financial data and roll up multiple locations into single reports, making ServiceTitan a particularly powerful platform for enterprise roofing businesses.

Understand the True ROI of Marketing Efforts to Optimize Your Campaigns

One of the most important aspects of effectively marketing a roofing business is measuring the ROI of your various channels and campaigns to know which campaigns are performing well. 

ServiceTitan makes this data easily accessible to roofing companies, eliminating the struggle to understand ROI. Specifically, ServiceTitan offers campaign-tracking telephone numbers and real-time ROI reporting for all of your marketing campaigns.

You can calculate the ROI for each of your campaigns and also break it down into cost per lead (CPL). You can track the number of calls your campaigns brought in, the jobs your reps booked from these calls, and the actual revenue of those jobs. 

By measuring the marketing ROI of each campaign, ServiceTitan helps roofing companies:

• Know how much revenue each roofing marketing campaign generates.

• Track how well staff convert new leads into jobs and sales.

• Focus marketing dollars on the campaigns that actually make money.

• Stop wasting money on ads — and platforms — that don’t perform.

See if ServiceTitan Is the Right CRM for Your Roofing Business

For over a decade, ServiceTitan has provided innovative products to help HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other trade businesses run more efficiently and improve their profitability. And we are now investing heavily in developing an all-in-one business management solution for the roofing industry.

Throughout this post, we’ve discussed how our form features can help streamline roofing inspections and shared a sampling of our estimate and CRM features that benefit roofing businesses the most. However, we also offer automation and features for time tracking, invoicing, accounting, and more.