Yeah, I’m with you—quarterly seems like overkill unless you’ve got a real problem spot or a ton of trees dumping junk up there. Twice a year’s been my sweet spot too, unless we get hammered by storms. I’ve actually had more trouble from people tromping around up there than from skipping an extra inspection. As long as the drains are clear and whoever’s checking knows what they’re doing, it’s usually fine. I’d rather have fewer, more careful checks than someone rushing through every couple months.
I’ve actually had more trouble from people tromping around up there than from skipping an extra inspection.
Man, I can relate to that. Had a crew up for a "quick look" after a hailstorm last year, and they ended up cracking a couple skylight seals just by walking where they shouldn’t. I’m all for keeping an eye on things, but sometimes less is more if you trust the person doing it. For me, after any big storm, I’ll do a walk-around from the ground first—look for obvious stuff like missing shingles or clogged drains before sending anyone up. Keeps the roof (and my nerves) in better shape.
sometimes less is more if you trust the person doing it
Totally get where you’re coming from. I see a lot of folks who think more foot traffic means more peace of mind, but honestly, the opposite can be true.
- Ground-level checks after a storm are underrated. You can spot a surprising amount without risking damage up top.
- I’ve seen crews accidentally scuff up membranes or knock loose flashing just moving around up there—especially on older roofs or with softer materials.
- If you do have to get someone up there, making sure they know the roof layout and weak points helps a ton. Not everyone thinks about things like brittle skylight edges or soft spots near drains.
- Document what you see from the ground with photos. Makes it easier to point out trouble spots if you really need someone to go up.
That said, sometimes you do need eyes (and hands) on the roof itself—especially with flat commercial roofs where ponding water or tiny punctures can go unnoticed. But yeah, sending people up just for routine “looks” can cause more harm than good.
I’ve also noticed that some insurance policies require annual inspections, but even then, I try to coordinate those with folks who actually specialize in low-impact assessments—less stomping around, more targeted checks.
Honestly, trusting your main maintenance person and doing regular ground-level sweeps has kept a lot of my clients’ roofs in better shape over time. It’s all about balance: enough attention to catch issues early, not so much that you create new ones by accident.
Couldn’t agree more about ground-level checks—honestly, some of the worst leaks I’ve seen started with tiny things you could spot from the sidewalk after a storm. I’d add: after any big wind event, walk the perimeter and look for shingle edges lifting or debris up against drains. It’s surprising how much you can catch without setting foot on a ladder.
One thing I’d push back on a bit—sometimes, especially with older flat roofs, you really do need someone up there at least once a year, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. I’ve seen ponding water that looked harmless from below, but up top you could see the membrane was starting to bubble.
I always tell folks: start with the ground, document everything (photos are gold when insurance asks questions), and only send someone up if you spot something odd or after major storms. And yeah, less is more... unless you’re dealing with hail season, then all bets are off.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’d argue it’s worth having someone up there more than just after storms or when you spot something weird. Especially with older roofs—stuff like minor splits or early membrane wear can be invisible from the ground. I’ve seen “fine” roofs turn into insurance headaches because small issues went unnoticed for too long. Even a quick spring and fall walkaround on the roof itself can save a lot of grief. Just my two cents...
