Is a cracked roof title considered cosmetic

A few additions to Jeff's advice if you decide to replace the damaged drywall.

1. I'd suggest you look into waterproof drywall or mold resistant drywall. There are various products that do a better job than the typical green board that you would use in the bathroom that will help if you are installing in an area that has a lot of exposure to the elements.

2. Double check the thickness of your drywall if you are patching. If you replace a 5/8" with 1/2", you'll notice it.

3. Use screws, especially on the ceiling. They take more time, but hold better and are less likely to cause the nail pops that you are seeing.

That being said, I think it's entirely possible that you're just more aware of drywall issues and there may not be anything wrong. To know for sure, I'd go up to the attic, pull up the insulation where you suspect damage, and look for water rings or other mold growth. Use a flashlight, no need to feel with your hands (and risk falling through). While you're there, check the insulation for blackening that would indicate mold is growing there, and if so, replace any damaged pieces.

Your ability to see the joints between the drywall is just a sign of not enough paint and/or primer. And popped nail heads are normal as a home moves. My personal plan is to replace all the popped nails with screws and double up on the spacing the next time I paint to minimize this issue.

It depends on what your goal is. If the goal is to never have water enter your house in any way then probably what you need to do is get one of the shingles that fell off and see what its lifetime rating is. Most are 15-20 years. If you are near that point and shingles are coming off then I would think about it.

However shingles falling off doesn't necessarily mean you need a new roof. It could have been a bad install on that part of the roof - or everything.

What you read is pretty true though except for the vegetation part. If you have tree coverage over your house you might get moss with a 2 year old roof. The curled, cracked, badly warped shingles... this is extreme and should be replaced.

If you want to wait to the last second, then you need to venture to your attic a lot - after big rains. Most of the time a roof will show signs of moisture before it starts letting in a lot of water - unless your roof is pretty flat. If you don't want to get up in the attic to do this then it is purely a guess/luck.

Last thing... How long do you plan on being in the house? If it is less than 10 years. Do you plan on replacing before reselling? If yes and yes. Then just replace it and enjoy the roof.