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Roof Damage Inspection in Chicagoland

A general roof inspection and a specialty material roof inspection are not the same thing. Identifying a problem on a century-old slate roof, a historic clay tile system, or a flat roofing assembly requires a different level of knowledge and a different set of eyes than what most contractors bring to an inspection. At Todco Roofing, our inspections are performed by specialists who work exclusively with these materials every day.

We provide roof damage inspections throughout Chicagoland for homeowners and property managers with slate, tile, and flat roofing systems on historic and high-value properties. Whether you have an active concern or simply want to understand the current condition of your roof, our inspection process gives you an honest, detailed picture of what is going on and what, if anything, needs to be done.

Roof Inspection for Slate, Tile, and Flat Roofing Systems

Specialty material roofs fail in ways that are not always visible from the ground and not always obvious even on the surface. A slate tile can look intact while the fastener holding it has corroded through. A clay tile roof can show no exterior damage while the underlayment beneath it has deteriorated significantly. A flat roof membrane can appear sound while moisture has already begun saturating the insulation below.

Our inspections cover the full roofing system across all three material types:

Slate Roof Inspection

Chicagoland’s historic homes are home to some of the most beautiful slate roofing systems in the Midwest, and keeping them performing requires knowing exactly what to look for. Our slate inspections cover:

  • Individual slate condition including delamination, cracking, and surface porosity
  • Missing or displaced slates that have fallen or shifted out of position
  • Fastener integrity and signs of nail sickness across the full field
  • Flashing condition at chimneys, valleys, and all roof penetrations
  • Ridge and hip mortar integrity
  • Underlayment condition where accessible

Tile Roof Inspection

From clay barrel tile to cement flat profiles, tile roofing systems on historic Chicagoland properties require a trained eye to assess correctly. Our tile inspections cover:

  • Tile surface condition including cracking, lifting, and displacement
  • Missing or fallen tiles that have left the underlying system exposed 
  • Mortar condition along ridges, hips, and field sections
  • Flashing integrity at all transition and penetration points
  • Underlayment performance beneath intact tile sections
  • Drainage performance and gutter attachment

Flat Roof Inspection

Flat and low-slope roofing systems present their own set of inspection challenges. Our flat roofing inspections are designed to identify the issues that are most likely to go undetected until they cause interior damage. We evaluate:

  • Membrane condition including seam integrity, surface cracking, and blistering
  • Ponding water patterns and drainage performance
  • Flashing condition at parapet walls, rooftop equipment, and penetrations
  • Insulation saturation through visual assessment
  • Edge metal and perimeter detailing
Roofer inspecting the flashing on a shingle roof
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Marcy Witte profile picture
Marcy Witte
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Todco Roofing did an excellent job repairing our leaking roof. They kept me updated on when they were able to come and fix it. They arrived when they said they would, assessed the damage and repaired it. The crew was professional and we were very satisfied with the work. We would highly recommend them.
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Nicholas Bartzen
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Reliable, prompt, and attentive to detail. I appreciated how easy the communication was with the company. Will definitely use them again.
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Jennifer Avila profile picture
Jennifer Avila
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Replaced the tile roof above the door of our 1888 Chicago Workers Cottage. Very happy with the work, the cost, and the professionalism of Todco! Before and after:
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Shapearl Wells profile picture
Shapearl Wells
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Todco was very professional and easy to work with. Having a clay tile roof in Chicago made it difficult to find someone who could do the work and do it well, Todco did a fantastic job and we are pleased. Would recommend and use again.
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Al DeBonnett profile picture
Al DeBonnett
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Haris, Elizabeth, Maestro Paul and the entire Todco Roofing team performed a perfect symphony of professionalism and customer service. Bravo! As a person who has more than 30 years of experience in real estate and financial services, I can honestly say that the Todco roofing experience has been the best. As a result of our experience with Todco, I can comfortably refer my many former clients, family and friends to Todco. I know that anyone I refer to Todco will be in good hands.
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Thomas Chen profile picture
Thomas Chen
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Short Version We recently moved into a 1920s home with a clay tile roof and discovered water damage in the master closet. The original sellers who promised to fix the roof leak used a general roofer who “fixed” the roof. Couple month later, we found mold and active leaks. Todco stood out with quick responses, cheapest quote, and great communication. Although they’re under new management, the same experienced crew is still there. Paul, the foreman, explained everything clearly and did excellent work. They fixed the issue in three days and I’ve already booked them for more repairs. If you have a tile roof, I highly recommend Todco—they know their stuff and do it right. Long Version Todco doesn’t have any recent comprehensive review, so I am going to chime in a long version. We recently moved into a historic district, where our 1920s home still has its original clay tile roof. When we bought the house, we noticed water damage in our master closet and asked the sellers to have the roof repaired. Unfortunately, they used a crappy general roofer who clearly had no experience with tile roofs. We thought the issue was resolved—our first big mistake. Three months later, we finally had a closet company come to fix our master closet. When they removed the damaged closet, we discovered a wet ceiling and significant mold growth. After some heavy rain, water was literally dripping from the ceiling. I reached out to the original roofer, who shrugged it off and said, “Tile roofs are tricky. You can’t really find the leaks. You fix what looks broken—you just need a whole new roof.” That didn’t sit right with me, so I turned to our neighborhood group and learned that tile roofs require specialists. I contacted three companies recommended by neighbors, including Todco. Every single one gave me the same answer: I didn’t need a new roof. The issue was likely due to poor flashing around the chimney and improperly installed tiles. Basically, the seller’s roofer didn’t fix anything and had no idea what he was doing. Many neighbors vouched for Todco, so I reached out. Haris responded quickly and was incredibly personable. He made me feel like fixing our roof was a top priority. He sent an estimator out right away, and their quote was the cheapest of the three. All the glowing neighborhood reviews were about the owner, Todd but I found out Haris is the new owner/manager (not sure which but was informed Todd has taken a step back but still involved). I couldn’t find any reviews about the new management and everyone I reached out to was with prior management. I was hesitant to sign, so I reached out to a neighbor, who contacted Todd for me. I even texted Todd directly. Shortly after, Haris called me to explain the transition and assured me the same experienced crew—Paul and Candelario—was still with them. That gave me the confidence to move forward. And I’m so glad I did. Paul, the foreman, was fantastic. He showed me the poor design of the flashing and the patch that gave out in the flashing. He walked me through the improvements they’d be making, and how the new flashing design was much more effective. The crew worked hard, kept me updated throughout the process, and completed the job in three days. They replaced the chimney flashing, installed new ice and rain shields, and re-tiled the affected area with care and precision. The work was excellent, and the crew was a pleasure to have around. Haris continued to follow up and support us throughout the process. I was so impressed that I’ve already booked Todco for a second job—to replace broken tiles elsewhere on the roof. I highly recommend Todco. They know tile roofs, and they take pride in doing things the right way. If you have a home with a roof, these are the people to call.
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Mike Dilich profile picture
Mike Dilich
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Todco recently repaired the slate roof on my 100 year old house in Evanston. Several random shingles were out of place and crooked. New copper flashing needed to be installed around the chimney. Paul from Todco repaired it all. He also painted some wood trim on the roof that could only be reached by hooking a ladder over the slates, in a place a normal painter could not reach without stepping on and probably breaking slates. Paul was the foreman on this job. I can't say more about how lucky I was to have Paul work for me. He searched for slates which needed to be repaired and repaired them all beautifully. He took the time to explain what needed to be done and what was not needed to be done and WHY. When I need roofing repairs done again in the future, I would hire Todco again in an instant. True professionals. And of course their cost was very reasonable and per their original quote. Thank you Todco, Mike D.
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Karin Birkeland profile picture
Karin Birkeland
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Great customer service and great result. Would definitely use Todco again!
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What We Look for During a Roof Inspection

On a specialty material roof, the most costly problems are almost never the ones that are immediately visible. During every inspection we evaluate:
  • The condition of the roofing material across the full surface
  • Flashing integrity at chimneys, valleys, skylights, and penetrations
  • Underlayment and decking performance beneath the surface material
  • Mortar joints, ridge caps, and hip sections
  • Attic inspection for ventilation performance, moisture intrusion, and water tracking along rafters where accessible
  • Gutter attachment, drainage slope, and water management performance
Once complete we walk you through everything we found and give you an honest recommendation. If slate roof repair or tile roof repair is needed, we outline exactly what that involves before any work is discussed.
a slate roof on a tudor styled home

Roof Inspections After Severe Weather

If a significant storm has moved through your area, do not wait for a ceiling stain to tell you something is wrong. Hail, high winds, and ice can all cause damage to a slate or tile roof that is not visible from the ground and not obvious until water has already found its way in. A single cracked tile, a flashing detail that has pulled away, or an ice dam that forced moisture under the eaves can all create problems that compound quickly if they go unaddressed. Getting an inspection on the calendar after a major weather event is one of the simplest and most cost-effective things you can do to protect a roofing system that was built to last generations.

Why Homeowners Choose Todco Roofing for Roof Inspections

A roof inspection is only as valuable as the expertise behind it. On a historic slate or tile roof, a contractor who does not work with these materials regularly will not know what to look for, what to measure, or how to distinguish normal aging from a genuine performance concern.

  • We Know What to Look For: Our inspectors have deep expertise in slate, tile, and specialty materials. We identify failure modes that a general contractor would miss entirely.
  • Honest Findings, Every Time: We have no incentive to find problems that are not there. If your roof is performing well, we will tell you.
  • Full System Assessment: We do not just look at the surface. Every inspection covers flashing, underlayment, mortar, ventilation, and drainage as a complete system.
  • Useful Documentation: Our inspection reports are detailed enough to support insurance claims, property transactions, and informed repair planning.
  • No Cost, No Obligation: The inspection is free. What you do with the findings is entirely up to you.

Examples of Communities We Serve Throughout Chicagoland

We provide roof damage inspections throughout Chicagoland and the surrounding area, including:

Schedule a Roof Inspection With Todco Roofing

If you have a concern about your slate, tile, or flat roof, or simply want to know where your roof stands before the next season, Todco Roofing is ready to help. Contact us today to schedule your free roof damage inspection in Chicagoland and get an honest assessment from a team that works with these materials every day.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How is a specialty material roof inspection different from a standard inspection? late, tile, and flat roofing systems fail in ways that require specific material knowledge to identify. Our inspectors have spent decades working with these materials and know exactly what to look for in ways that a general contractor simply would not.

How often should a slate or tile roof be inspected? At least once a year and after any significant storm. Regular inspections are the most cost-effective way to protect a specialty material roof long term.

What happens after the inspection? We walk you through what we found and give you an honest recommendation. If the roof is in good shape we will tell you that too.

Can an inspection help with an insurance claim? Our detailed inspection documentation can support the claims process when storm-related damage is present.

Do you inspect flat roofs as well as slate and tile? We inspect all roofing systems we work on including flat and low-slope assemblies throughout Chicagoland.

How long does a roof inspection take? Most residential inspections can be completed in one to two hours depending on the size and complexity of the roof. 

What should I do if I notice an active leak before my inspection? Contact us right away. We can assess the situation quickly and take steps to protect the interior while a permanent repair is planned.