A storm-season checklist for your roof and exterior.

Before the season: gutters first

Blocked gutters are the leak we find most. Water backs up under the edge of the roof, soaks the fascia and eventually shows up as a stain on an interior ceiling far from where it got in. Clearing them is an afternoon and it prevents the most expensive kind of surprise.

Then flashing and sealant

Around vents, skylights, chimneys and every roof-to-wall junction. Sealant has a life and it is shorter in this sun than the tube says. Lifted flashing found in May is a small repair; found in July it is a ceiling, insulation and drywall.

Loose tiles, shingles and soffit

Anything already loose becomes a projectile and an opening at the same time. Soffit and fascia are worth a look from the ground with binoculars — you are checking that nothing is sagging, separated or letting light through.

The morning after

Walk the perimeter before you touch anything or call anyone. Photograph everything from the ground, including debris and where it landed. Do not climb up on a wet roof. We do post-storm inspections and send you the photos whether or not you hire us for the repair — knowing what you actually have is worth more than a guess.