Insurance just wanted photos and a thumbs up that nothing looked wild.
Funny how “nothing looked wild” is now the gold standard for roof inspections. Has anyone actually had an inspector go up there and find something major, or is it usually just a quick glance and some photos? I always wonder if they’d even spot a sneaky leak under all those layers...
I've seen both sides—sometimes it's just a cursory photo check, but I've also been called out to inspect after an insurance "approval" and found rotted decking under the shingles that was totally missed. Surface-level photos don't catch hidden leaks or soft spots, especially on older roofs or ones with multiple layers. Unless someone physically checks for sponginess or looks in the attic, subtle issues can fly under the radar. It's kind of wild how much gets overlooked just because nothing looks "off" from the street.
Yeah, I’ve had the same thing happen—insurance guy took a few pics from the driveway, said “looks good,” and left. Meanwhile, I knew there was a spot by the chimney where the plywood felt like a trampoline. Guess it’s only a problem if you actually step on it…
- Had a similar experience during my first inspection.
- Inspector just circled the house, took a few photos, and left in under 10 minutes.
- I’d already noticed some soft spots near the vent stack—definitely not visible from the ground.
- Was surprised when my insurance premium actually dropped after that.
- Not sure if they’re just looking for obvious storm damage or what, but it feels like they miss a lot by not getting up there.
- Makes me wonder if I should be more proactive about repairs, even if insurance isn’t flagging anything.
- Roof’s only 8 years old (asphalt shingles, Midwest climate), but I’m already seeing some curling on the south side.
- Guess it’s “out of sight, out of mind” for them unless there’s a claim?
- Kind of wish they’d do a more thorough check—would rather catch issues early than deal with leaks later.
- Had almost the same thing happen—inspector just walked around, snapped a few pics, and left.
- My roof’s 10 years old (asphalt, also Midwest), and I’ve patched a couple spots myself. Insurance didn’t mention anything, but I found a cracked flashing last fall that would’ve been a mess if I’d waited.
- I get why they don’t climb up, but it’s weird they base premiums on such a quick look.
- Personally, I check mine every spring—curling shingles on the south side too. Sun just eats them up here.
- Insurance seems more reactive than proactive... I’d rather catch stuff early, even if it means paying out of pocket sometimes.