The crew is gone, the driveway is clear, and the roof looks great from the street. That is the moment most homeowners stop paying attention — and it is exactly when a short after roof replacement checklist pays for itself.
Nothing here takes long. Ten minutes at the walkthrough, an hour of paperwork, one attic check the first time it rains, and a reminder set for next year. Do those four things and your roof starts its life documented, verified, and protected.
Before the Crew Leaves: The Final Walkthrough
Do not let this become a wave from the driveway. Walk the property with the foreman and look at specifics.
From the ground, on every elevation:
- Ridge lines straight and evenly capped, with the ridge vent continuous where installed.
- Drip edge present at both eaves and rakes, tight and consistent.
- Valleys clean and uniform, with no lifted or short-cut shingles.
- Flashing at walls, chimneys, and dormers newly installed rather than reused.
- Pipe boots and vents new, seated flat, and properly shingled around.
- Gutters undented, still level, and clear of granules and nails.
- Siding, windows, and screens undamaged.
Then the ground itself: driveway, walkways, patio, lawn, and every flower bed along the eaves, where nails concentrate after bouncing off the roof edge. Ask the foreman to run the magnet again over any area you are unsure about, and to check the beds by hand.
Finally, ask for the decking photos from the day and confirm any change order matches what you approved.
The Paperwork to File Immediately
Collect everything while the job is fresh and put it in one folder, digital and physical:
- Signed contract and final paid invoice
- Product specification — brand, line, color, accessories
- Manufacturer warranty certificate and registration confirmation
- Workmanship warranty document with its term
- Permit and inspection close-out where applicable
- Job photos, especially decking and flashing
Registration is the piece most often missed, and enhanced coverage often depends on it happening within a limited window. Read registering your roof warranty if you have not already, and send a copy of the folder to your insurance agent so your policy reflects the new roof.
The First-Rain Check
The first real North Texas downpour is a free performance test. Take a flashlight into the attic during or shortly after the rain and look at the underside of the decking around plumbing stacks, exhaust vents, valleys, chimney chases, and along the eaves. You are looking for damp wood, drips, or fresh staining.
Outside, watch how water actually moves. It should run to the valleys, off the drip edge, and into the gutters rather than behind them. Downspouts should discharge well away from the foundation — which matters in expansive clay soils, where water pooling at the slab causes its own expensive problems.
If you see anything at all, call rather than wait. A workmanship issue found in week one is a fifteen-minute fix.
The Second Nail Sweep
Nails work up out of turf and mulch for weeks after a job, especially after rain and mowing. Run a magnet over the driveway, walkways, and lawn again about a week later, and again after the first heavy rain.
Check the beds along the eaves by hand — magnets do not pull through bark mulch or rubber. It is a five-minute task that saves a flat tire and keeps bare feet safe through the summer.
Watch the Attic Through the First Season
Your new roof replacement changed the attic environment, particularly if ventilation was corrected. Over the first few months, note whether the attic runs cooler in July afternoons, whether you see condensation on the decking during a hard freeze-thaw swing, and whether upstairs rooms hold temperature better.
Change your HVAC filter shortly after installation too. Tear-off vibration shakes attic dust loose, and some of it finds the return.
Schedule the First Maintenance Visit
New roofs are not maintenance-free — they are trouble-free for longer. Plan an inspection about a year in, and after any significant hail or high-wind event before that.
Regular inspections catch lifted sealant strips, fastener back-out, and displaced ridge caps while they are still nothing, and most manufacturers expect reasonable maintenance as a condition of coverage. Our protection plan handles the scheduling for you, and our annual roof maintenance checklist covers what you can watch on your own between visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I check during the final walkthrough after a new roof? Walk the full perimeter and look at ridge lines, drip edge, valleys, flashing at walls and chimneys, pipe boots, and the gutters. Then check the driveway, beds, and lawn for debris and nails before the crew leaves.
When should I schedule the first maintenance visit on a new roof? Plan on an inspection about a year after installation, and after any significant hail or high-wind event before that. Early inspections catch small issues while they are still simple fixes and help keep warranty coverage intact.
What should I do the first time it rains on my new roof? Check the attic with a flashlight during or just after the rain, looking at penetrations, valleys, and along the eaves for damp decking or drips. Then watch how the gutters and downspouts carry water away from the house.
Need a hand with post-install questions? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045 or request a free quote. We stand behind every roof we install across Wise County.