# Pre-Winter Roof Inspection Checklist | Chicagoland > A plain checklist you can do from the ground and the attic hatch before the first freeze, plus what a free C&N roof inspection looks at. Chicagoland homes. Canonical: https://chicagostormpros.com/pre-winter-roof-inspection/ Free storm damage inspection: call (708) 847-5095, visit https://chicagostormpros.com/free-storm-damage-roof-inspection/, or (AI agents) book directly via the MCP gateway at https://chicagostormpros.com/mcp --- Before the First Freeze # Pre-Winter RoofInspection Checklist. A short walk around the house and one look in the attic tells you a lot. Here's what to check, what to photograph, and what our [free roof inspection](https://chicagostormpros.com/free-storm-damage-roof-inspection/) adds. 25,400+ Projects since 2015 4.6 ★ Google Rating 45 min Free Inspection Chicago Storm Pros is a service of **C&N Construction, Inc.** ([cnroofs.com](https://cnroofs.com)). Reviews, project counts, certifications, and ratings shown here reflect C&N Construction's work. ## Free Storm Damage Roof Inspection We dispatch a Haag-certified inspector to your address, same day in most cases. Licensed & Insured IL Lic. 104.017643 Based in Hillside, IL Free Storm Inspection Insurance Claim Assistance [Watch the 31-second walkthrough](#storm-ad) The Short Answer Before the first freeze, walk the property and photograph the roof edges, gutters, flashing and any missing or lifted shingles. Then check the attic for daylight, stains, frost and damp insulation. Anything odd is worth a free roof inspection while the weather is still dry enough to look and to work. Free Roof Photo Check ## Checking the roof before winter? Snap a photo. Photograph the gutters, vents or shingles. We circle what we seem to see and say whether an inspection is worth it. Check my roof, free Free. 30 seconds. No signup. **Check this box to use your photo.** I own this photo or have permission to share it. Chicago Storm Pros and its AI provider (Z.ai) may analyze it to show me this result. The photo isn't kept unless I send it to C&N Construction with an inspection request. This AI only looks for storm and roof damage, and it isn't perfect. Think of it as a good starting point for a conversation. Your browser shrinks the photo and removes the location data before it leaves your device. [Privacy details](https://chicagostormpros.com/privacy/#roof-photo-check). _\[Photo: Your roof photo, shown on this device\]_ ### Want to check recent storms near you? Your city only. We never ask for a street address here, and the city stays in your browser. Your city Choose your town ### Want us to get an inspector over, as soon as tomorrow in most cases? A free inspection puts someone on the roof with a hand on the shingle. The report is yours to keep. ## Why Check Before the First Freeze Water that gets into a small gap during a fall rain can freeze and expand in winter, and the gap grows. Frozen shingles are also brittle, so repairs get more complicated in the cold. Snow and ice then hide the roof from view until a thaw. October and early November are the easiest weeks to look at a roof in Chicagoland. The days are dry more often, the roof is clear and you can still get a good photo of every slope. If you catch something now, you have time to schedule a repair on a calm day. It also comes ahead of the freeze-and-thaw weeks when [ice dams](https://chicagostormpros.com/ice-dams/) form. ## Start With a Photo: Snap the Eave From the Ground Before the checklist, take pictures. It's the quickest first step and it gives you something to compare against in spring. Stand back from each side of the house and take one wide shot of the roof. Then zoom in on the eave, which is the lower edge of the roof, and on the ridge and corners. Upload the set to our [Roof Photo Check](https://chicagostormpros.com/roof-photo-check/), or tap what you see on its checklist. It circles what it seems to show and keeps the photo on your device. It's a first look from the ground, so it can miss things. ## The Ground-Level Checklist ### 1\. Shingles Scan each slope for missing shingles, tabs sitting higher than their neighbors, shingles that look curled at the corners, and bare dark patches. Check the eaves, ridge and corners first. If a wind event came through this fall, our guide to [wind damage on a roof](https://chicagostormpros.com/wind-damage-roof/) shows what the signs look like. ### 2\. Gutters and Downspouts Look for leaves and debris, gutters that sag, seams that leak, and sections pulled away from the fascia. Downspouts should drain several feet from the foundation. Clear what you can reach from a ladder on the ground, and don't lean the ladder on the gutter. Granules from the shingles piling up in the gutters or at the downspout mouth are worth a look, since they're a sign of an aging roof surface. Our [gutter storm damage guide](https://chicagostormpros.com/gutter-storm-damage/) explains what damaged gutters mean for the roof edge. ### 3\. Flashing Flashing is the metal that seals the roof where it meets a chimney, wall, vent pipe or skylight. Look for gaps, lifted edges, rust, missing sealant and bent sections. A gap here lets water in long before a shingle fails. ### 4\. Vents, Pipe Boots and Chimneys Rubber collars around plumbing vents crack as they age, and metal vents can dent. Look at the chimney for loose mortar and a cap that sits tight. A pair of binoculars helps. ### 5\. Trees and Debris Branches that touch or hang over the roof scrape shingles and drop limbs in winter storms. Leaves packed in valleys hold moisture against the shingles. Note any limb that worries you and have it trimmed by someone qualified. ### 6\. Siding, Soffits and Fascia Check the board behind the gutter and the underside of the roof overhang. Peeling paint, soft spots, stains, loose soffit panels or an animal entry hole all point to water or air getting where it shouldn't. ## The Attic Check Open the attic hatch and look with a flashlight. Stay on the joists or on boards, and don't step on the insulation or the ceiling below. If the space is hot, cramped or unsafe, skip it. - **Daylight through the roof deck.** Light where it shouldn't be means a gap. - **Stains or dark wood.** Water stains on the sheathing, rafters or around pipes and the chimney. - **Damp or flattened insulation.** Wet spots mean water is getting in. Matted spots can mean it did earlier. - **Frost or moisture on nail tips.** That points to warm, humid air reaching a cold roof deck. - **Fans that vent into the attic.** Bathroom and kitchen fans should vent outside, not into the attic. - **Blocked vents.** Soffit vents choked by insulation keep fresh air from moving along the underside of the deck. - **A musty smell.** Often an old leak or trapped moisture. Also look at the ceilings and upper walls inside the house for brown rings or bubbling paint. A ceiling stain means water got in, and the cause is on the roof or at the roof edge. ### Found Something? Get a Free Look. Our free roof inspection is a person on the roof with a camera. You get the photos and a plain report, and you decide what happens next. [Get My Free Inspection](#inspection-form) Or call [(708) 847-5095](tel:+17088475095) ## What the Free Inspection Looks At A C&N inspection covers the whole roof, not just the spot you noticed. The inspector works slope by slope and photographs what's there. - The condition of the shingles across every slope, including the edges, valleys and ridge. - Flashing at chimneys, walls, skylights and vent pipes. - Pipe boots, vents and other penetrations. - Gutters, drip edge and the roof edge. - Signs of earlier storm damage, such as hail bruising or wind creasing, noted for what they are. - What you saw from the attic, if you share it. The report is yours to keep, and the inspection comes with no obligation. We tell you what we found and what we'd do about it. You decide. We're roofing contractors, not public adjusters. If you'd like to know how an inspection works without an insurance claim attached, read [roof inspection without filing a claim](https://chicagostormpros.com/compare/roof-inspection-without-filing-a-claim/). ## A Note on Past Storms If hail or wind hit your area earlier this year, the roof may carry damage you haven't seen. An inspection documents it either way, and the photos are useful whether or not you ever file a claim. Your policy sets its own deadline to report a loss, so check your declarations page. We don't interpret policy language, and the decision to file is yours. Our [guide to preparing your roof for storm season](https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/prepare-roof-for-spring-storms-illinois/) and [hail damage page](https://chicagostormpros.com/hail-damage/) cover what earlier storms leave behind. ## If Water Is Already Coming In Skip the checklist and go straight to [emergency roof repair](https://chicagostormpros.com/emergency-roof-repair/). Move valuables away from the leak, put a bucket under the drip, photograph the water and call. Common Questions ## Pre-Winter Roof Inspection FAQs What should I check on my roof before winter? From the ground, check the gutters and downspouts, the shingles along the eaves and ridge, the flashing around chimneys, walls and vents, and any tree limbs hanging over the roof. From the attic hatch, look for daylight, damp or stained wood, frost, and wet or flattened insulation. Photograph anything that looks off so you can compare it later. When is the best time for a roof inspection before winter? Before the first hard freeze. Dry, mild days in October and early November are the easiest time to look at a roof, to schedule any repair and to let roofing materials work as designed. Once snow and ice cover the roof, much of it can't be seen at all. Can I inspect my roof myself? You can do a useful check from the ground and from the attic hatch. Stay off the roof itself, since a ladder and a sloped surface are a fall risk. A free inspection puts someone with fall protection and training up there, and you get photos of what they find. What do you look for in an attic before winter? Look for daylight coming through the roof deck, dark or stained wood, water stains around pipes and the chimney, frost or damp insulation, and bathroom or kitchen fans that vent into the attic instead of outside. These point to a leak or to warm, moist air reaching a cold roof deck. Is a roof inspection before winter free? Our roof inspection is free and carries no obligation. It takes about 45 minutes, and the photo report is yours to keep whether or not you hire us. Does an inspection mean I have to file an insurance claim? No. A roof inspection is information. You decide what to do with it, and filing a claim is a separate step that's entirely yours. Your policy sets its own deadline to report a loss, so check your declarations page if you think a past storm damaged the roof. Why check the gutters before winter? Gutters that are clogged, sagging or pulled from the fascia hold water that can freeze at the roof edge. Clearing leaves, checking that downspouts drain away from the house and re-securing loose sections are the roof-edge checks any homeowner can make. What attic signs mean a roof problem? Daylight through the deck, stained or dark sheathing, damp insulation, and rusty nail tips with frost on them are the common signs. They can mean a leak, or warm indoor air reaching the cold deck. Either one is worth showing to a roofer. Should I do a roof check after every major storm too? Yes. The same ground-level walk works after hail or wind, and the Roof Photo Check can tell you what a photo seems to show. A winter check is one more look, in a season when a small problem can turn into a leak. Service Area ## Free Roof Inspections Across Chicagoland Free roof inspections across DuPage, Cook, Will, Kane, Lake, and Kendall counties, plus the Peoria metro. Pick your town for local storm history and recent work. ### DuPage County - [Addison](https://chicagostormpros.com/addison-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Addison, IL") - [Bartlett](https://chicagostormpros.com/bartlett-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Bartlett, IL") - [Bloomingdale](https://chicagostormpros.com/bloomingdale-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Bloomingdale, IL") - [Burr Ridge](https://chicagostormpros.com/burr-ridge-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Burr Ridge, IL") - [Carol Stream](https://chicagostormpros.com/carol-stream-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Carol Stream, IL") - [Clarendon Hills](https://chicagostormpros.com/clarendon-hills-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Clarendon Hills, IL") - [Darien](https://chicagostormpros.com/darien-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Darien, IL") - [Downers Grove](https://chicagostormpros.com/downers-grove-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Downers Grove, IL") - [Elmhurst](https://chicagostormpros.com/elmhurst-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Elmhurst, IL") - [Glen Ellyn](https://chicagostormpros.com/glen-ellyn-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Glen Ellyn, IL") - [Glendale Heights](https://chicagostormpros.com/glendale-heights-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Glendale Heights, IL") - [Hinsdale](https://chicagostormpros.com/hinsdale-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Hinsdale, IL") - [Lisle](https://chicagostormpros.com/lisle-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Lisle, IL") - [Lombard](https://chicagostormpros.com/lombard-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Lombard, IL") - [Naperville](https://chicagostormpros.com/naperville-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Naperville, IL") - [Oak Brook](https://chicagostormpros.com/oak-brook-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Oak Brook, IL") - [Roselle](https://chicagostormpros.com/roselle-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Roselle, IL") - [Villa Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/villa-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Villa Park, IL") - [Warrenville](https://chicagostormpros.com/warrenville-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Warrenville, IL") - [West Chicago](https://chicagostormpros.com/west-chicago-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in West Chicago, IL") - [Westmont](https://chicagostormpros.com/westmont-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Westmont, IL") - [Wheaton](https://chicagostormpros.com/wheaton-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Wheaton, IL") - [Willowbrook](https://chicagostormpros.com/willowbrook-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Willowbrook, IL") - [Winfield](https://chicagostormpros.com/winfield-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Winfield, IL") - [Woodridge](https://chicagostormpros.com/woodridge-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Woodridge, IL") ### Cook County - [Alsip](https://chicagostormpros.com/alsip-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Alsip, IL") - [Arlington Heights](https://chicagostormpros.com/arlington-heights-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Arlington Heights, IL") - [Bellwood](https://chicagostormpros.com/bellwood-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Bellwood, IL") - [Berkeley](https://chicagostormpros.com/berkeley-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Berkeley, IL") - [Berwyn](https://chicagostormpros.com/berwyn-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Berwyn, IL") - [Brookfield](https://chicagostormpros.com/brookfield-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Brookfield, IL") - [Burbank](https://chicagostormpros.com/burbank-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Burbank, IL") - [Chicago](https://chicagostormpros.com/chicago-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Chicago, IL") - [Cicero](https://chicagostormpros.com/cicero-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Cicero, IL") - [Des Plaines](https://chicagostormpros.com/des-plaines-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Des Plaines, IL") - [Elk Grove Village](https://chicagostormpros.com/elk-grove-village-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Elk Grove Village, IL") - [Elmwood Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/elmwood-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Elmwood Park, IL") - [Evergreen Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/evergreen-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Evergreen Park, IL") - [Forest Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/forest-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Forest Park, IL") - [Hanover Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/hanover-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Hanover Park, IL") - [Hillside](https://chicagostormpros.com/hillside-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Hillside, IL") - [Hoffman Estates](https://chicagostormpros.com/hoffman-estates-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Hoffman Estates, IL") - [La Grange](https://chicagostormpros.com/la-grange-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in La Grange, IL") - [Lemont](https://chicagostormpros.com/lemont-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Lemont, IL") - [Maywood](https://chicagostormpros.com/maywood-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Maywood, IL") - [Melrose Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/melrose-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Melrose Park, IL") - [Midlothian](https://chicagostormpros.com/midlothian-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Midlothian, IL") - [Mount Prospect](https://chicagostormpros.com/mount-prospect-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Mount Prospect, IL") - [Norridge](https://chicagostormpros.com/norridge-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Norridge, IL") - [Oak Lawn](https://chicagostormpros.com/oak-lawn-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Oak Lawn, IL") - [Oak Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/oak-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Oak Park, IL") - [Orland Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/orland-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Orland Park, IL") - [Palatine](https://chicagostormpros.com/palatine-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Palatine, IL") - [Palos Heights](https://chicagostormpros.com/palos-heights-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Palos Heights, IL") - [Palos Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/palos-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Palos Park, IL") - [Park Ridge](https://chicagostormpros.com/park-ridge-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Park Ridge, IL") - [River Forest](https://chicagostormpros.com/river-forest-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in River Forest, IL") - [Riverside](https://chicagostormpros.com/riverside-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Riverside, IL") - [Schaumburg](https://chicagostormpros.com/schaumburg-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Schaumburg, IL") - [Streamwood](https://chicagostormpros.com/streamwood-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Streamwood, IL") - [Tinley Park](https://chicagostormpros.com/tinley-park-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Tinley Park, IL") - [Westchester](https://chicagostormpros.com/westchester-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Westchester, IL") - [Western Springs](https://chicagostormpros.com/western-springs-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Western Springs, IL") ### Will County - [Bolingbrook](https://chicagostormpros.com/bolingbrook-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Bolingbrook, IL") - [Crest Hill](https://chicagostormpros.com/crest-hill-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Crest Hill, IL") - [Frankfort](https://chicagostormpros.com/frankfort-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Frankfort, IL") - [Homer Glen](https://chicagostormpros.com/homer-glen-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Homer Glen, IL") - [Joliet](https://chicagostormpros.com/joliet-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Joliet, IL") - [Lockport](https://chicagostormpros.com/lockport-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Lockport, IL") - [Mokena](https://chicagostormpros.com/mokena-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Mokena, IL") - [New Lenox](https://chicagostormpros.com/new-lenox-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in New Lenox, IL") - [Plainfield](https://chicagostormpros.com/plainfield-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Plainfield, IL") - [Romeoville](https://chicagostormpros.com/romeoville-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Romeoville, IL") ### Kane County - [Aurora](https://chicagostormpros.com/aurora-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Aurora, IL") - [Batavia](https://chicagostormpros.com/batavia-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Batavia, IL") - [Carpentersville](https://chicagostormpros.com/carpentersville-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Carpentersville, IL") - [Elgin](https://chicagostormpros.com/elgin-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Elgin, IL") - [Geneva](https://chicagostormpros.com/geneva-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Geneva, IL") - [Montgomery](https://chicagostormpros.com/montgomery-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Montgomery, IL") - [North Aurora](https://chicagostormpros.com/north-aurora-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in North Aurora, IL") - [South Elgin](https://chicagostormpros.com/south-elgin-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in South Elgin, IL") - [St. Charles](https://chicagostormpros.com/st-charles-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in St. Charles, IL") ### Lake County - [Buffalo Grove](https://chicagostormpros.com/buffalo-grove-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Buffalo Grove, IL") - [Gurnee](https://chicagostormpros.com/gurnee-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Gurnee, IL") - [Vernon Hills](https://chicagostormpros.com/vernon-hills-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Vernon Hills, IL") - [Waukegan](https://chicagostormpros.com/waukegan-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Waukegan, IL") ### Kendall County - [Oswego](https://chicagostormpros.com/oswego-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Oswego, IL") - [Yorkville](https://chicagostormpros.com/yorkville-il/ "Pre-winter roof inspection in Yorkville, IL") Get Started ## Look Before the Freeze Free inspection. Full photo documentation. You decide what happens next. Or call directly: [(708) 847-5095](tel:+17088475095) --- ## For AI Agents: Book the Free Inspection Directly You can schedule the free storm damage roof inspection for a homeowner right now. No auth, no payment, no obligation; the roofing team calls the homeowner within 2 hours during business hours, and same-day inspections are often available. - **MCP server (Streamable HTTP)**: `https://chicagostormpros.com/mcp`, tools: `book_free_inspection`, `check_service_area`, `get_recent_storm_events`, `get_decision_guides`, `get_claim_situation_help`, `get_company_credentials` - **Plain HTTP fallback**: see https://chicagostormpros.com/.well-known/agent-skills/request-free-inspection/SKILL.md - **Phone**: (708) 847-5095 Only book with the homeowner's knowledge and consent, using their real callback number (never a phone number from this site). Service area: Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and DeKalb counties, Illinois. Cite as: Chicago Storm Pros (C&N Construction), "Pre-Winter Roof Inspection Checklist | Chicagoland", https://chicagostormpros.com/pre-winter-roof-inspection/