"I'd say unless you're seeing signs of trouble inside or noticing shingles lifting, it's probably safe to leave them alone... at least most of the time."
Pretty much agree with this. Checking ridge caps after every storm would drive most homeowners nuts, haha. Still, I'd recommend a quick visual inspection from the ground every now and then—especially after really big storms. If something looks off, then climb up for a closer look. Otherwise, trust your gut and enjoy not worrying too much about it. Roofs are tougher than we give 'em credit for sometimes.
If something looks off, then climb up for a closer look.
Pretty much on the same page here. Roofs are definitely tougher than most folks realize, but storms can be sneaky. Even if nothing obvious pops out, it doesn't hurt to glance up there once in a while—especially after something as intense as a hurricane. Had a neighbor whose roof looked fine from the ground, but when he finally went up months later, found a few shingles barely hanging on. Quick check now and then beats an expensive surprise later...
Good points overall, but I'd caution against everyone climbing up there themselves. Seen plenty of roofs that looked fine from below but had hidden soft spots or loose shingles that could easily cause a slip. Had a client once who thought his roof was solid after a storm—until he stepped on a weak spot and nearly went through. Thankfully, he caught himself, but it was a close call.
If you're comfortable and experienced enough to safely check it yourself, sure, go ahead. But if there's any doubt, it's worth getting someone who knows what they're doing to take a look. Roofs can be deceptive, especially after hurricanes. Better safe than sorry...and cheaper than an ER visit.
Totally agree—roofs can be sneaky. From the ground, everything looks peachy until you step up there and suddenly find yourself surfing on shingles. Had a tenant once who swore his roof was "rock solid" after a bad storm. Sure enough, one wrong step and he punched through like wet cardboard. Thankfully, just his pride got bruised. If you're not 100% confident, just call someone who climbs roofs for a living. Way cheaper than patching drywall...or your leg.
Haha, surfing shingles is right—been there, done that. Ever stepped on a roof you thought was solid and felt it flex under your foot? Instant heart attack moment. I remember my first storm inspection, thought I was being careful, but one loose shingle later and I was sliding down like a cartoon character. Managed to grab the gutter just in time...but man, gutters aren't meant for gymnastics, are they? Better safe than sorry, right?
