The new roof looks good, the bin is still in the drive, and the final paperwork is apparently "coming over shortly." Pat brings the agreed scope to the walkthrough. Shortly is a useful word only after someone attaches a task and a date to it.
A walkthrough separates completed roof work, remaining cleanup and missing records. Agree on a documented review while the scope and changes are still easy to trace.
Schedule it before the project disappears into separate invoices and unanswered memories. If the roofer cannot attend in person, agree a documented remote review with clear images and a route for follow-up.
Bring the Scope, Not Just the Total
Have the original agreement and approved changes available. Work through the specific items: roof sections, products, deck repairs, flashing, vents, skylight work and any separate gutter or siding tasks.
Ask about substitutions or details that changed after removal. A sensible adaptation should have an explanation and the required approval, rather than becoming a surprise in the final invoice.
For extras, reconcile the documented quantity and price. Our payment-schedule guide explains how a running balance makes this simpler.
Mike starts with what was promised and what changed. Looking up from the pavement is part of the review, but it cannot reconcile a deck-repair extra or show the flashing now concealed behind the finish.
Review What the Shingles Now Hide
Ask for stage photographs of the deck, completed repairs and important underlayment and flashing details. The purpose is to understand the installation record, not certify every fastener from a few pictures.
If an image shows an unfamiliar detail, have the contractor identify its location and function. A close-up with no context can be hard to interpret later. Our photo guide describes a useful set to request before work starts.
A technical concern that remains unresolved may need an independent qualified inspection. A tidy street view does not settle a question about a concealed junction.
Four Parts of a Useful Handover
Completion is easier to review when physical work and paperwork are checked together.
Scope
Compare completed items and approved changes with the agreement.
Evidence
Review stage photos and explanations of hidden details.
Site
Check accessible property conditions and cleanup.
Open items
Record any remaining task, responsible person and follow-up date.
Walk the Accessible Property
Once overhead work has stopped, inspect agreed areas from safe ground. Review siding, windows, garden protection, driveway condition and debris removal. Ask whether gutters and accessible drainage outlets were checked for roofing waste.
IKO's preparation and completion advice includes checking the property after the work. Bring concerns to the contractor promptly and identify them by location.
Dave leaves the bin footprint on the unfinished list. Nobody has inspected the driveway underneath a full container. It sounds obvious until the cleanup is signed off and the container finally moves.
Make the Remaining-Work List Useful
Pat rewrites the vague entry on the handover list:
- "Cleanup still needed."
- "Check and sweep the driveway beneath the bin after Thursday collection; contractor to confirm completion."
The second gives everyone the same task and a way to close it. Use that level of detail for a missing document, a return visit or an unresolved physical concern. Keep urgent leakage separate from a minor finish item so it cannot disappear in a mixed list.
Collect the Records
Request the final itemized invoice, product and colour information, applicable warranty documents and any registration confirmation that the agreement requires. Clarify which coverage comes from the installer and which from the manufacturer.
Keep the callback contact somewhere easy to find. Save the documents digitally with the installation date and project photographs so a future owner or insurer does not have to guess what was installed.
Handle the balance according to the agreement and applicable Ontario payment and holdback rules; seek advice if there is a dispute. The walkthrough creates a clear record. It should not require you to improvise either a technical certification or a legal payment decision at the front door.
Finish with a named person responsible for each remaining item and a clear callback route. We want the handover to close the project properly, rather than send the owner home with a roof and a second job chasing records.