Roofing in Maine splits between wind and salt on the coast and snow that stays inland. Midcoast and Downeast roofs take fog, uplift, and metal that rusts. Inland roofs from Lewiston to the County take ice at the eaves and a load that sits. Capes leak where a warm attic meets a cold edge. Farmhouse ells dam snow sliding off the main slope. Name the material and whether the ocean is in the weather that hits your ridge.
Chimney flashing, stove pipes, and the first courses above a heated eave are the usual paths inside. A boot split by rust on the coast is as common as an ice dam in Bangor. Valleys hold needles and then ice. If you can see the attic, say whether the boards are wet after a blow or the ceiling only stains in a thaw. A sagging line means stay off. Metal sheds onto entries and lower roofs. Mention where that slide lands.
A second layer hides soft deck, and soft deck is common where fog keeps the roof damp and where ice has been backing water for years. Underlayment at the eaves matters inland. Fastened edges and rust-resistant flashing matter on the water. Skylights and old antennas are extra holes. Island and peninsula access can decide when materials arrive. Say if a truck can reach you after a storm, because that is part of the roofing problem.
Slate and wood shingles still sit on older houses and fail at the fasteners before the field looks gone. Asphalt on a simple cape fails at the tabs and the rakes in an onshore wind. Do not describe those as one repair. Moss and lichen in a shaded coastal hollow are damp, not decoration. Note any mount already through the roof. A connected barn can leak into the house at the joint.
Give the town, coast or inland, and the material. Say whether water came with a wind off the water or with a thaw. Mention a sag, an ell, or rusted metal if you can see it from the ground. Call the number on this page.