Roof Inspections & Replacement Estimates in Plainfield, IL
What a Real Roof Inspection Looks Like — and Why It Matters Before You Spend a Dollar
Honest Roof Inspections and Detailed Estimates for Plainfield Property Owners
A roof inspection is only useful if the person doing it actually gets on the roof, knows what they're looking at, and tells you the truth about what they find.
Plainfield Superior Roofing provides thorough roof inspections for homeowners and commercial property owners throughout the Plainfield area.
We inspect every section of the roof systematically, document what we find, and give you a clear written estimate based on actual conditions — not a number pulled from a square footage calculator. No pressure. No upselling. Just an accurate picture of what your roof needs.
What We Look at During a Professional Roof Inspection
Most homeowners have never seen a proper roof inspection done. What passes for an inspection at some companies is a contractor walking the perimeter of the house, glancing up at the roofline, and quoting a replacement price based on the home's square footage. That's not an inspection. That's a sales call dressed up as a service. A real inspection requires getting on the roof, working methodically across every section, and evaluating multiple components that collectively determine the true condition of the system.
Here's what a thorough roof inspection actually covers.
- Shingle condition is the starting point. We look at the full surface of every roof section — not just the visible slopes from the ground. We assess granule coverage, looking for areas of accelerated granule loss that indicate aging, impact damage, or manufacturing defects. We check for curling at the tabs and edges, cracking across the shingle face, and any lifting or loss of the sealing strip that bonds courses together. On older roofs common throughout Plainfield neighborhoods, we look for the brittle, dried-out appearance that tells us a shingle is past its useful life regardless of whether it's actively leaking yet.
- Flashing inspection comes next. Flashing failures are responsible for a significant percentage of residential roof leaks, and they're consistently the most underinspected component on a roof assessment. We examine step flashing at every wall intersection, counter flashing and cap flashing at chimneys, flashing at all pipe penetrations and vent boots, and drip edge condition along the eaves and rakes. Separated, corroded, or improperly installed flashing doesn't always leak immediately — but it will.
- We also inspect the ridge cap and ridge ventilation, soffit vents, valley condition, and gutter attachment. If access permits, we recommend an attic inspection as well. The underside of the roof deck tells a story that the surface sometimes hides — staining from past leaks, mold growth from inadequate ventilation, frost patterns from air bypasses, and decking condition that affects the scope and cost of any replacement work.
Every finding is documented with photographs and written notes. You receive a clear summary of what we found, what it means for the condition of your roof, and what we recommend — whether that's monitoring, targeted repair, or full replacement.
How We Build a Roof Replacement Estimate That Actually Reflects Your Job
A roof replacement estimate is only as useful as the information behind it. A single number on a piece of paper — or worse, a verbal quote over the phone — tells you almost nothing about what you're actually getting. Plainfield Superior Roofing provides written, itemized estimates that break down every component of the job so you can compare proposals accurately and make an informed decision.
Here's what goes into building an honest replacement estimate.
- We start with accurate measurements. We measure every roof section individually — field areas, ridges, hips, valleys, and rakes. We calculate the pitch of each section because steeper slopes require additional labor and safety equipment that affects cost. We account for waste factor based on the complexity of the roofline. Homes with multiple dormers, hips, and valleys in the Plainfield area waste more material than a simple gable roof, and an accurate estimate reflects that reality.
- Material selection is the next variable. We walk you through shingle options with honest information about the differences — not just price points but performance characteristics, wind ratings, impact resistance, and warranty coverage. We specify the underlayment type, the ice and water shield scope, the flashing material, and the ridge vent system so you know exactly what's going into the installation. If a competing estimate doesn't list these components, that's worth asking about.
- Decking is addressed as a line item with an allowance based on what we observed during the inspection. If we found soft spots or visible damage during the inspection, we note it and include a realistic allowance for board replacement. We don't hide this cost or surprise you with it on installation day.
- Disposal, permit fees where applicable, and cleanup are included. Nothing is left out and added back later. The number you see on the estimate is the number you pay unless we uncover concealed decking damage during tear-off that couldn't be identified beforehand — and if that happens, we document it and discuss it with you before proceeding.
We know homeowners in Plainfield are often comparing multiple estimates. We welcome that. A detailed written estimate makes that comparison meaningful. If another proposal is significantly lower, the line-item breakdown will show you exactly where the difference comes from.