“I used to think a quick walk-around was enough, but after missing a soft spot by a vent last spring, I’m more thorough now.”
That hits home. I once thought my “keen eye” could spot anything, but I missed a leak that ended up dripping right onto my workbench... and my lunch. Now I do the crawl-and-tap routine, especially around those vents and skylights. I’ll admit, twice a year feels like overkill sometimes, but after that soggy sandwich incident, I’m not taking chances.
Twice a year actually sounds pretty reasonable to me, especially if you’ve got a lot of vents or roof features. But I’ll push back a bit—sometimes monthly visual checks (even just from the ground or a ladder) can catch stuff early without going full crawl-and-tap every time. Anyone else find that’s enough, or am I just tempting fate?
Monthly visual checks are better than nothing, but honestly, they can give a false sense of security. I’ve seen plenty of roofs that looked fine from the ground, but once you’re up there poking around, you find cracked seals or soft spots you’d never spot from below. Especially with flat roofs or lots of penetrations, stuff can go sideways fast. Twice a year for a real inspection is just playing it safe—think of it like changing your oil, not just checking the dipstick.
I get where you’re coming from, but I think monthly visual checks still have their place, especially for catching obvious stuff like missing shingles or pooling water before it gets worse. Not everyone can swing a full inspection twice a year, budget-wise. For my place, I do a quick look every month and then call in a pro after big storms or if I notice anything weird. It’s not perfect, but it’s kept me out of trouble so far.
I do a quick look every month and then call in a pro after big storms or if I notice anything weird. It’s not perfect, but it’s kept me out of trouble so far.
That’s actually a pretty solid approach, especially if you’re dealing with budget constraints. Regular visual checks can catch things like debris buildup or obvious membrane damage before they escalate. I’ve seen cases where just spotting a clogged drain early saved someone from a major leak. Full inspections are ideal, but honestly, your method covers the basics and helps prevent bigger headaches down the line.
