Attic Inspection in Los Angeles
We check the underside of your roof for leaks, ventilation problems, and pest entry points, and photograph what we find. Estimates are free.
- Licensed, bonded & insured
- CSLB #1119699 (C-39)
- BBB Accredited, A rating
A Roof and Attic Inspection From the Inside
An attic inspection is a look at your roof from the inside: the underside of the roof deck, the rafters, the vents, and the insulation. Leaks and ventilation problems often show up there before a stain ever reaches the ceiling.
We check the attic as part of a roof inspection when it can be reached, or on its own when you notice a ceiling stain, a musty smell, or an upstairs room that stays hot. Our team brings 25+ years of roofing experience. For a formal written report on the whole roof, see roof inspection reports.
1/150 of the vented space
1 inch of air space
1/16 to 1/4 inch
CSLB #1119699 (C-39)
Signs of a Roof Leak in the Attic
These are the signs we look for with a flashlight, and most of them you can spot yourself from the attic hatch:
Stains on the roof deck and rafters
Water that gets past the roofing runs along the underside of the deck and down the rafters before it drips. Dark streaks or rings on the plywood, often below a valley, chimney, skylight, or pipe, show where it has traveled. Fresh stains feel damp; old ones are dry and may come from a leak that was already repaired.
Rusty nail tips
The tips of roofing nails poke through the deck into the attic. Rust on them, or dark rings in the wood around them, means moisture has been reaching the deck. Rust in one area points toward a leak above it; rust spread across the whole attic points toward condensation and weak ventilation.
Daylight around pipes and vents
With the attic light off, daylight around a plumbing vent, exhaust duct, or chimney shows a gap in the flashing or a failed pipe boot. A thin line of light along the ridge can be normal where there is a ridge vent.
Wet or matted insulation
Insulation that is flattened, stained, or damp in one spot has usually been soaked by a leak above it. Wet insulation loses much of its insulating value and holds moisture against the ceiling drywall, so it needs to be dried or replaced once the leak is fixed.
Musty smell or mold-like growth
A musty smell or dark, spotty growth on the underside of the deck means moisture has stayed there for a while. The EPA’s guide to mold and moisture puts it simply: the key to mold control is moisture control. So the first step is finding the water source, whether that is a roof leak or poor ventilation.
Attic Ventilation Inspection: Intake, Exhaust, and Blocked Vents
An attic needs air moving through it, with cooler air coming in low at the eaves and warm, damp air leaving near the ridge. When that flow stops, summer heat builds up under the roof and moisture condenses on the deck in cool weather. The California Residential Code sets the basics:
- A net free vent area of no less than 1/150 of the space being vented, or 1/300 where upper vents supply 40 to 50 percent of the total and the code’s other conditions are met
- Openings between 1/16 and 1/4 inch, or screened, to keep out birds, rodents, and other animals
- At least 1 inch of air space between the insulation and the roof sheathing at each eave vent
- Ember-resistant vents in the fire hazard zones covered by the Wildland-Urban Interface Code
In an attic ventilation inspection, we look for intake and exhaust that work together, eave vents buried under blown-in insulation, crushed or painted-over screens, and missing baffles. Where venting looks short, we can add or replace roof and ridge vents.
We also check where the fans end. The California Mechanical Code requires exhaust ducts to end outside the building and bars kitchen range hoods from ending in an attic. A bathroom fan that blows into the attic puts warm, wet air right under the deck, so its duct should run to a roof or wall cap.
Who to Call for an Attic Inspection: Roofer, Home Inspector, or Pest Control
Attic problems often involve more than one trade. Here is who handles what:
- A roofer traces leaks, checks the deck and rafters from below, repairs the roofing and flashing above, and adds or replaces roof vents.
- A home inspector looks over the whole house for a sale and may refer roof issues to a roofer.
- Pest control or a wildlife service removes rats, raccoons, and other animals and cleans up after them.
- An insulation contractor replaces insulation that is soaked or soiled.
- A mold professional is worth calling for widespread growth; the EPA suggests one when mold covers more than about 10 square feet.
For animal damage, the roofer’s part comes once the animals are out: closing the way in. Roof rats are agile climbers that nest in attics, and the University of California’s pest management program advises sealing every opening larger than 1/4 inch, including openings well above the ground. We look for gaps at the eaves and fascia, open tile ends along the eaves, and loose vent screens and pipe flashing, then close them with metal flashing or new vent screens.
Call (877) 557-7778 any time, or use the form below. Office hours are Sunday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After the Attic Check: Matching Findings to the Roof Above
Every finding inside is traced to a spot on the roof: a stain under a valley sends us to the valley, and rust around a vent pipe to its pipe boot. You get photos and a free written estimate for the repair, which may include:
- replacing a pipe boot or resealing a roof vent;
- repairing step, chimney, or skylight flashing (see roof flashing repair);
- resetting slipped tiles and replacing broken ones over the leak;
- replacing soft or delaminated decking (see roof decking repair);
- adding intake or exhaust vents, or a roof cap for a bathroom fan duct.
Water coming through the ceiling right now? Our 24/7 line is (877) 557-7778, and our roof leak repair page explains what to do first.
Our Reviews
Schedule an Attic Inspection
Tell us what you have noticed, such as a ceiling stain, a musty smell, or signs of animals, and where the attic hatch is. Call (877) 557-7778 or use the form below. We’re a licensed, bonded, and insured C-39 roofing contractor (CSLB #1119699), and the estimate is free.
Get Your Free Estimate
Please fill out the form below, or call: (877) 557-7778
Please fill out the form below, or call:
(877) 557-7778
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Attic Inspection Questions
Do roofers check attics?
A roofer tracing a leak should, whenever the attic can be reached. The underside of the deck shows leaks, condensation, and daylight that the roof surface hides. Some homes have vaulted ceilings or a crawl-height attic with no safe path; then we work from the roof and the ceilings below.
Can you fix animal damage in my attic?
We fix the roof side of it. Once pest control has removed the animals, we seal the way in: gaps at the eaves and fascia, open tile ends, damaged vent screens, and openings around pipes. Chewed wiring is a job for an electrician, and soiled insulation for an insulation contractor.
Is moisture in the attic always a roof leak?
No. Condensation also wets the underside of the deck, usually across a wide area rather than below one spot, and it often traces back to weak ventilation or a bathroom fan that blows into the attic. A leak tends to stain one area below a valley, flashing, or pipe. Telling the two apart decides whether the fix is on the roof or in the attic.
Do I need to be home for an attic inspection?
Yes, or someone who can let us in. The attic hatch is usually in a closet, a hallway ceiling, or the garage, so clear a path to it and move anything stored right below. We bring our own ladder and lights, and we step only on the framing, never on the drywall between joists.
How can I check my attic for a roof leak myself?
Go up during or just after a rain with a flashlight, and stand only on the joists. Look at the underside of the deck below valleys, chimneys, skylights, and vent pipes for wet spots or drips, and feel whether the insulation is damp. Take photos of anything you see; they help us find the matching spot on the roof.
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