HAAG Roof Inspector study plan

HAAG Roof Inspector · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Residential Roofing

Map the full residential roof assembly from deck to ridge and list every component in order
Explain the purpose of underlayment, flashing, and ice barrier at each roof transition
Identify the common residential roof coverings and state one installation requirement for each
Define slope, pitch, and roof square, and calculate squares for three sample roof plans

A one-page labeled roof assembly diagram plus a worked calculation sheet for three roofs showing squares, pitch, and slope

Week 2

Describe correct step flashing and counterflashing at sidewalls and chimneys
Explain valley flashing methods and where each is acceptable
List ventilation requirements for intake and exhaust and compute net free area for a sample attic
Identify common residential installation defects visible from the ground or at the eaves

A defect checklist of at least 15 residential items with the location where each is inspected and a photo-note column

Week 3

Compare low-slope membrane systems and state where each is appropriate
Explain roof insulation, cover board, and attachment methods for commercial assemblies
Describe drainage design including slope to drains, scuppers, and crickets
Identify commercial flashing details at curbs, penetrations, and parapet walls

A comparison table of at least four commercial roof systems covering material, slope range, seams, and typical defects

Week 4

Outline the sequence of a commercial roof inspection from interior to roof surface
Describe how to document membrane seams, blisters, ponding, and fastener back-out
Explain how to distinguish installation defects from maintenance issues on a commercial roof
Practice writing findings in objective, condition-based language

A mock commercial inspection report for a 20,000 sq ft low-slope roof with findings, severity ratings, and recommended actions

Week 5

Explain how wind pressure, uplift, and edge zones act on a roof
Identify the roof zones where wind damage is most likely and why
Describe the difference between wind damage and damage from other causes such as hail or wear
List the fastening and edge-metal details that improve wind resistance

An annotated roof zone sketch with at least 10 wind-vulnerable details flagged and a short note on each

Week 6

Classify wind damage by type: missing shingles, creased tabs, lifted flashing, and edge-metal failure
Explain how to distinguish fresh wind damage from pre-existing or installation-related conditions
Apply wind-damage findings to residential roof coverings and flashing details
Write a defensible cause-and-origin statement for three damage scenarios

Three short case write-ups, each with observed conditions, cause determination, and supporting reasoning

Week 7

Build a single inspection workflow that covers residential, commercial, and wind-damage checks
Rehearse documenting findings with measurements, locations, and photo references
Identify gaps in your knowledge across all three domains and rank them
Complete timed practice sets and review every missed item

A consolidated inspection checklist covering all three domains plus a ranked list of your top 10 weak areas

Week 8

A scored practice exam with a written correction log and a final readiness statement per domain

Week 2: Can explain residential roof assembly, flashing, and ventilation from memory without notes

Week 4: Can produce a complete, objective commercial inspection report from a described scenario

Week 6: Can correctly classify wind damage and separate it from wear or installation defects in all three case scenarios

Week 8: Scores at or above your target on the timed practice exam and has a written correction log for every miss