I just bought my first place last year, so I’m still figuring out what’s “normal” for roof checks. My house isn’t huge, but after a couple of those spring windstorms, I got up there and found a shingle half hanging off the edge. I never would’ve noticed from the ground—no leaks inside or anything, but it was just barely hanging on. That freaked me out a bit, honestly.
I get the point about sensors being more useful for big commercial roofs. For me, it’s just a ladder and a pair of gloves (and a lot of nerves). But even with a smaller roof, I’m realizing it’s easy to miss stuff if you’re not looking closely or if there’s snow covering things up. I can’t imagine trying to keep tabs on one of those flat roofs with all the vents and weird corners.
Do you all actually schedule inspections, or is it more like “something looks off, better check”? I feel like I’m just reacting to storms right now instead of having any kind of plan. Also, is there such a thing as too much checking? My neighbor says he only gets up there once a year unless there’s obvious damage, but that seems risky with how wild the weather’s been lately.
Curious if anyone’s tried those camera drones for checking hard-to-reach spots. I’ve thought about it, but not sure if it’s overkill for a regular house roof.
I totally get the nerves—first time I checked my own roof, I was convinced I’d find a disaster up there. Honestly, with the way storms are ramping up, I don’t think it’s overkill to check after every big wind event, especially if you’ve got older shingles. I try to do a quick visual scan from the ground after storms and then a closer look twice a year (spring and fall). Drones are pretty handy for tricky spots—I borrowed one from a friend last year when I couldn’t reach a back corner. Not essential, but definitely less nerve-wracking than climbing!
- Quick checks after storms are smart, but don’t rely on ground scans alone—misses a lot.
- For commercial roofs, I recommend:
- Visual inspection from the roof at least twice a year (spring/fall).
- After any big storm or wind event, especially with older roofs or flat roofs where pooling is common.
- Use drones if access is tough, but still check by foot when safe.
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That’s good, but some leaks don’t show until it’s too late. Also check drains and flashing—those are weak spots.“I try to do a quick visual scan from the ground after storms and then a closer look twice a year (spring and fall).”
- If you’re in a spot with lots of trees, add another check after heavy leaf fall. Clogged drains are a pain.
“Also check drains and flashing—those are weak spots.”
Totally agree with this. I learned that the hard way last fall. We had a big storm roll through and I did my usual walk-around from the ground, figured everything was fine. A couple weeks later, water started dripping into the breakroom ceiling... turns out one of the roof drains was clogged up with leaves and gunk, and water had been pooling up there for days. Ended up costing way more to fix than if I’d just gone up and checked after the storm.
Our building’s got a flat roof and is surrounded by maples, so leaf season is brutal. Now I make sure to get up there after every heavy rain or windstorm, especially in the fall. Drones are cool for a quick look but honestly, nothing beats actually getting your boots on the roof (if it’s safe). Also found a split in the flashing last spring that would’ve been easy to miss from below.
It’s just one of those things—out of sight, out of mind until it’s suddenly a big problem.
Flat roofs and maples... that’s a combo I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I swear, leaves find their way into places you didn’t even know existed. I’ve had tenants call about “mysterious ceiling stains” more times than I can count, and it’s almost always a clogged drain or busted flashing.
I try to get up there at least every couple months, but honestly, after a big storm or when the wind’s been howling, I’m up there sooner. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time on the roof than in my own office. Drones are fun (and make you look high-tech), but yeah, nothing beats actually poking around up there yourself—just watch out for those surprise puddles.
Ever tried those leaf guards for drains? I put some in last year and they helped a bit, but they’re not magic. Still gotta clear them out by hand sometimes. Anyone else have luck with those or is it just me fighting the never-ending leaf battle?