I hear you about the moisture meter, but honestly, I’m not convinced they’re always necessary for everyone. I just moved into my first place last year and, yeah, I was paranoid about the roof—especially after hearing horror stories like yours. But when I had a roofer come out for a look (just a regular inspection), he found a cracked shingle near the chimney that I never would’ve spotted, even with fancy tools. No meter needed—just someone who knew what to look for.
I guess what I’m saying is, sometimes it’s less about gadgets and more about having an extra set of experienced eyes. Visual checks missed your issue, but in my case, they caught mine before it turned into a mess. Maybe it depends on the age of the roof or how much weather it’s seen? Either way, I’m not ready to buy more gear just yet... but ask me again after my first winter here.
You make a fair point—sometimes you really can’t beat a trained set of eyes, especially if you’re dealing with a roof that’s only a few years old. I’ve had my place for quite a while now (going on 18 years), and honestly, the visual checks worked fine for the first decade or so. The problems started showing up after we had a few rough winters, and that’s when I realized how easy it is to miss something subtle until it’s too late.
I’m with you on not rushing out to buy every gadget. The moisture meter was more of a last resort for me after a small leak turned into an expensive headache. If your roofer’s catching issues early just by looking, you’re probably in good shape for now. Age and weather definitely play a role—older roofs or those that take a beating from snow and ice can hide problems under the surface.
Anyway, sounds like you’re doing what makes sense for your situation. You’ll probably get a better feel for it after you’ve seen how your roof holds up through a full year. First winters are always the real test...
That first winter really does tell you a lot. I used to think a quick look-over was enough, but after a couple of ice dams snuck up on me, I started questioning if I was missing stuff under the surface. Ever tried a drone for inspections? I’m curious if that’s overkill or actually helpful for catching things you can’t see from the ground. Still, nothing beats someone who knows what they’re looking for—gadgets or not.
I get where you’re coming from with the drone idea, but honestly, I’ve found it’s not always necessary for most roofs—especially if you’re comfortable getting up there yourself (safely, of course). I tried borrowing my neighbor’s drone last fall after a nasty windstorm, thinking I’d spot hidden damage or missing shingles. The photos were cool, but the glare off the shingles and the angles made it hard to see anything subtle. Ended up climbing up with a harness and finding a cracked vent boot that the drone totally missed.
If you’ve got a really steep roof or a big commercial building, maybe drones make more sense, but for a regular house? I still think getting hands-on is the best way to catch stuff like loose flashing or soft spots. Here’s what I do every fall:
1. Grab a sturdy ladder and check gutters first—ice dams are usually worse when they’re clogged.
2. Walk the roof (if it’s safe) and feel for any spongy areas underfoot.
3. Look closely at all the seams around chimneys and vents—those seem to be where leaks sneak in.
4. Check inside the attic for water stains or daylight peeking through.
I get why folks want tech to help, especially if heights aren’t your thing. But I’ve noticed even pros will poke around with their hands and eyes before trusting a gadget alone. Sometimes gadgets can give you a false sense of security, like “oh, nothing looks bad from above” when there’s actually rot hiding underneath.
Not saying drones are useless—they’re neat for seeing places you just can’t reach—but I wouldn’t skip the old-school inspection just because you’ve got some new gear. And yeah, nothing beats someone who knows what to look for...but learning to spot trouble yourself saves a lot of headaches (and cash) in the long run.
Sometimes gadgets can give you a false sense of security, like “oh, nothing looks bad from above” when there’s actually rot hiding underneath.
That’s a solid point—nothing replaces actually poking around up there. I’m with you on the hands-on approach, especially for smaller roofs. I’ve tried thermal cameras and drones, but they just don’t catch soft spots or minor flashing issues. Ever tried using a moisture meter in the attic? It’s not high-tech, but it’s caught stuff I’d have missed otherwise. Curious if you’ve noticed any difference in wear patterns between north- and south-facing slopes? That’s been a thing for me lately.
