Walk-around roof inspection (from the ground)
Annual · typically April–May · weather can move it up
Why it matters
You don't need to get on a ladder to catch most roof problems early — you need to actually look, once a year, with intent.
We'll also ping you after any serious wind event — that's when shingles leave and flashing lifts.
What skipping it costs
$1,500–$15,000
A lifted shingle is a $300 repair. The same shingle after two years of letting water in is rotted decking, wet insulation, and a stained ceiling — $1,500 to $15,000 depending on how long it drank. Roofs rarely fail loudly; they fail quietly, one seam at a time.
Two ways to get it done
Do it yourself
You'll need: Binoculars (or your phone camera zoomed in), Notepad or phone for photos.
- Pick an overcast day (glare hides problems) and walk the full perimeter slowly, binoculars up.
- Scan the field: missing, cracked, curled, or discolored shingles; sagging lines along the ridge.
- Zoom in on every penetration — chimney, vents, skylights. Flashing (the metal trim) causes more leaks than shingles do. Look for lifted edges, rust, or cracked sealant.
- Check the valleys (where two roof planes meet) — debris piles and wear concentrate there.
- Look at the gutters: heavy granule buildup means the shingle surface is going.
- Photograph anything questionable with today's date. A photo history is gold when you're deciding repair vs. replace — or arguing with an insurance adjuster.
- Inside, eyeball the attic ceiling (or top-floor ceilings) for new stains. Water shows up indoors long after it got in.
Hire it out
$150–$350National fair range — local labor moves this number.
A professional roof inspection runs $150–$350, and the honest use for it is every few years, before buying or selling, or after a hail or major wind event. A good inspector walks the roof, photographs everything, and gives you a repair-vs-replace read with numbers.
The roofing industry has a storm-chaser problem, and the defense is simple: you call them, never the reverse. Get the inspection from a company that does repairs, not just replacements — a replacement-only outfit finds replacement-only problems.
Ask the tech
- Can you photograph anything you're calling damage, from up on the roof?
- Are we talking repair or replace — and what's the repair number?
- How many years do you honestly think this roof has left?
Red flags you're being upsold
- A knock on your door after a storm from a roofer you didn't call. Storm-chasers write the ugliest contracts in the trade.
- 'Total replacement' as the opening offer for a roof under 15 years old with localized damage.
- Pressure to sign an insurance-claim authorization on the spot — that document can assign your claim to them.
Second opinion time: Any replacement quote, period. Roofs are five-figure decisions; a second set of eyes costs nothing and roofers expect it.
The call
DIY the looking — twenty minutes with binoculars, feet on the ground. Never DIY the walking; leave getting on the roof to people who are insured for it.