Roof Inspection in Oklahoma City, OK

When it makes sense to have a roofer look at your roof

There are a few situations where it is worth having an independent roofer take a look, even if you haven't spotted an obvious problem:

• After a hailstorm or high-wind event. A storm damage inspection helps because damage may not be visible from the ground.

• Before or after buying or selling a home, so you know what you are working with.

• After a leak shows up inside, even a small ceiling stain, because water can travel before it shows on a ceiling.

• Before spring storm season. May has the most reported hail days here, then April and June, and Oklahoma County had hail 1 inch or larger reported in 25 of the 26 years from 2000 to 2025 (NOAA SPC reports). May is also the wettest month (NOAA normals), and April is the windiest (Oklahoma Mesonet).

Simple things you can check from the ground

You don't need to climb on your roof to get a general sense of its condition. A few things to look at from the yard or inside your home:

• Shingles or granules collecting in gutters, downspouts or splash areas on the ground.

• Shingles that look curled, cracked or missing from the edge or ridge line.

• Gutters that are bent, pulling away from the fascia, or showing obvious impact marks after a storm.

• Ceiling stains or soft spots in your attic, which can point to a slow leak.

If any of these catch your eye, it is worth having a roofer take a closer look rather than waiting.

What a roofer typically looks at

An independent roofer acting as your roof inspector will generally check the areas most likely to let in water or show wear first. That usually includes:

• Shingles across the field of the roof and along the ridge, where IBHS notes ridge caps are especially vulnerable on asphalt shingle roofs.

• Flashing around chimneys, skylights, vents and walls, since these transitions are common leak points.

• Roof valleys, where Oklahoma's code calls for a 36-inch ice barrier strip and where water concentrates during heavy rain.

• Drip edge at the eaves and rake edges, which Oklahoma's code calls for on shingle roofs (it doesn't always have to be metal).

• Vents, pipe boots and any roof penetrations.

• Gutters and downspouts for signs of granule loss or physical damage.

The roofer may also check the attic side if access is available, looking for signs of moisture, daylight or inadequate ventilation.

The roofer's assessment and the city inspection are two different things

This is worth understanding before work begins. The assessment a roofer gives you is their professional opinion on the roof's condition. It is separate from any permit inspection the city may require.

Since August 1, 2025, the City of Oklahoma City requires a re-roofing permit for houses and duplexes when the work is over 500 square feet. A permit isn't required for maintenance of 500 square feet or less. After the work, city inspectors check the finished roof, including roof condition, flashing, drainage, installation and code compliance. Your roofer should pull the permit. The OKC Development Center is at (405) 297-2525. The rule follows city limits, not county lines.

If your home is outside Oklahoma City limits, permit requirements vary by city. Ask your roofer what applies to your address.

What to ask for in writing and how to check a roofer

Before any work begins, the Oklahoma Insurance Department says: never sign a contract with blank spaces and keep a copy, don't pay the full amount up front, pay for work in installments as it is completed, and don't make your final payment until the job is complete.

IBHS suggests getting at least three written estimates, looking for a roofer with a permanent local presence and experience with your roof type, and making sure the roofer pulls any permits local rules require.

Oklahoma requires roofing contractors to register every year with the Construction Industries Board (CIB). You can look up a roofer on the CIB's online roofing registration search or call the CIB at 405-521-6550. Registered roofers are required to display their "OK" registration number on both sides of their work trucks and on contracts, bids, business cards, signs and ads. Ask to see it before you sign anything.

The CIB also advises getting at least three estimates, asking whether there is a charge for the estimate, and requesting references including a customer from over a year ago.

Frequently asked questions