Had the same thing happen last year—got a 30-page PDF with more colors than a bag of Skittles and not a single word about my missing shingles. I ended up climbing up there myself (not my brightest idea, but hey, curiosity won) and found a whole patch flapping in the wind. Sometimes I think these reports are made for other roofers, not us regular folks just trying to keep the rain out. Give me a simple “replace this” any day.
Sometimes I think these reports are made for other roofers, not us regular folks just trying to keep the rain out.
That’s exactly it. I’ve had three different inspectors over the years and every report is like a technical manual—full of diagrams and color codes, but hardly any plain English. Did yours mention anything about underlayment or flashing, or was it just surface-level stuff? I always wonder if they’re skipping important details or just assuming we know the lingo.
every report is like a technical manual—full of diagrams and color codes, but hardly any plain English.
That’s been my experience too. Last time, the inspector mentioned “step flashing compromised at eave transition” and I had to Google half of it. Did your report actually explain what needs fixing, or just list issues? Sometimes I wonder if they’re just covering themselves liability-wise and not thinking about us trying to make sense of it.
I totally get what you mean about the reports. Mine was packed with terms like “delamination at ridge cap” and “granule loss in valley,” and I had to look up half of it too. I think a lot of inspectors just copy-paste from templates, so you end up with a list of issues but not much context. Liability probably plays into it, but honestly, it doesn’t help us figure out what’s urgent or what can wait.
What’s worked for me is breaking down the report step by step. For example, when mine said “step flashing compromised at eave transition,” I went outside and tried to match the diagram to what I was seeing on my own roof (asphalt shingles, pretty standard). Turns out, that’s where the little metal pieces tuck under the shingles near the edge—mine were rusted through in spots. Once I figured that out, I could actually talk to a roofer and ask for a specific fix instead of just waving the report around.
If your report doesn’t explain what needs fixing, here’s how I tackle it:
1. Google each term with “roofing” after it (like “step flashing roofing”). Usually there are diagrams or YouTube videos.
2. Check if the report has photos—sometimes they’ll circle or highlight problem areas.
3. Make a list: What’s leaking? What looks like it could cause leaks soon? What’s just cosmetic?
4. Prioritize based on your budget and how long you plan to stay in the house.
I’ve found most inspectors are happy to answer questions if you email or call, even if their reports are dense. One guy even sent me a quick video walkthrough after I asked for clarification.
It’d be great if they wrote these things in plain English, but until then, I guess we’re stuck playing translator... At least now I know what “eave transition” means, which is something?
It’d be great if they wrote these things in plain English, but until then, I guess we’re stuck playing translator...
Totally relate to this. My first inspection report had me googling every other word—felt like I needed a secret decoder ring. I ended up walking around with the report in one hand and my phone in the other, trying to match “blistering at hip” to what I could actually see. Half the time I wasn’t even sure if it was urgent or just cosmetic. Wish they’d just say “hey, this part might leak soon” instead of all the jargon. Your step-by-step breakdown is spot on, though.
