I used to see these a lot on old farmhouses around here but they always were in bad shape…these are still serviceable but trying to get more info to provide to the client (and learn something new myself)
Thanks!
Per your picture, here in the Midwest I would recommend replacement. Shingles appear brittle, curling, and beyond service life. What is your definition of serviceable? Is that explanation in your report?
I would never walk on any roof that appears to be brittle, and old. You could damage it, and pay for the roof/repairs. Check it at gutter level/edges first.
Edge flashing appears incorrectly installed.
I don’t know of anybody using serviceable in a normal inspection. I do see it on tick reports though!
I agree with Gary that you should not walk on these older interlocking shingles.
I am only familiar with this design for our area.
http://www.iko.com/shared/residential/installation/3ULI.pdf
scroll down French Method & interlocking
“Older organic shingles exhibit some distortion and may need to be replaced soon. They appeared to be adequately protecting the roof at the time of the inspection”
Unless they weren’t.
IMHO, they are not serviceable since you most likely cannot find a replacement shingle if needed. Those would be 50+ years old. Haven’t seen any exposed on a currently lived in house. Have seen the odd abandoned old barn with those installed.
In my area, they were called/branded “Lay-tite”
Inquiring minds want to know just how much do you weigh:p
Your joking of course:shock:
May I ask what area that is?
Never heard them called that before. 
Shingles don’t necessarily leak or suffer functional damage just because they’ve distorted to some degree. This distortion looks fairly uniform and I don’t see any missing shingles. They’re probably near the ends of their service lives but not necessarily at the ends of their service lives.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to recommend replacing shingles if they’re still good for 3-5 more years. I’ve walked worse roofs with no damage. Many roofs, even with distortion, still retain some flexibility. It’s not like walking on crackers, but the person performing the inspection is in the best position to decide whether they can be walked without damage.
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I would not recommend riding my horse on that roof but I have walked a boat load just like that and never damaged a shingle
People just use anything they can find as an excuse to not walk a roof
Charley, everyone knows your horse is afraid of heights and refuses to walk all roofs. :mrgreen::mrgreen:
Charley you forgot to consider location. The individual hear is living in temperatures of 30 F. Would you walk on it then? I have seen shingles snap that are brand new if not nailed correctly or have not been flattened by the first year snow fall.
If I walk a roof I go up along the gable end to the top and no this roof I would not walk on at this time of the year.
I agree with Kenton!!! LOL
Kenton, with all due respect, I would not use the word “organic”. Some lawyer will ask if it is make out of lettuce.
Charlie, I have walked on roofs, since I am a former roofer (put me through college). When you walk on a roof during an inspection, and a leak appears in the home a month or year later, you get the call. “I saw the inspector up on the roof walking everywhere a month ago”.
I know what is, and what isn’t when it comes to roofing. 5,000 inspections and 10 years in business, never missed any roof/flashing/chimney issue.
Oh; 215#.
Insurance companies here will not insure a roof unless it has at least 5 years left. IMO, this one needs replaced; any insurance company here would not endorse this one.
Gary that is just an excuse 16 years as a inspector and 10,000 inspections and have never damaged a roof by walking it cold, hot or inbetween, insurance companys here like 2 years of remaining life expectancy but will insure with a pro-rate for any age.
Your place or mine:D Bring Dan with you I will show him how I beat my chest while standing on the ridge cap:p
AHHH I was riding my horse when I found this one a spoung inserted in the rain cap as viewed from horse back on the roof and cardboard viewed from within the attic with horse tied to the hitching post external to the street side of the home.
Gary you would not have found this from the ground or the eve and if you were to heavy to walk this roof you would not have fit through the attic access hole either. We need to talk about your weight;-)
Actually looking for type only…Aware of the condition…if these were traditional shingles they would have a couple years max left on them…Don’t have many T-locks or whatever installed in this area, so was looking for feedback on the actual shingle. The “edge flashing” is a gutter helmet 
Thanks
Thank you!
My thoughts exactly, Kenton. Unless they are too steep, to slippery, or too bad off to walk, I’m a walkin’…These were still remarkably pliable.
Thanks, Frank
Personally I only use my horse to test deck and stair tread strength…
BTW, I used the word “serviceable” on the post to save you guys a detailed explanation of the legal-eze wording in my report to say “it ain’t leakin’ yet, but it’s fixin’ to in a couple more years so start savin’ your pennies…” see, serviceable was quicker…