Makes me wonder how many “lucky” roofs are just ticking time bombs...
That’s exactly what I started thinking after last year’s storm. My place looked totally fine from the ground—no missing shingles, nothing obvious. But a couple weeks later, I noticed a brown spot on the bedroom ceiling. Turns out, a tiny bit of flashing had lifted just enough for water to sneak in. Never would’ve caught it if I hadn’t gone poking around in the attic.
Honestly, I used to think if the roof looked good, it was good. Now I’m crawling up there after every big storm, checking all the weird spots—around the vents, chimney, even the edges. It’s a pain, but way better than dealing with soggy drywall and mold.
I guess sometimes it’s luck, but most of the time it’s just stuff you can’t see unless you’re really looking for it. Makes me wonder how many folks have leaks brewing and don’t even know it yet...
That’s exactly what I’m worried about too. I just bought my first place last year, and after the last big windstorm, I kept staring at the roof from my driveway thinking, “Looks fine, right?” But now I’m second-guessing everything. How do you even know when it’s time to call in a pro for an inspection versus just keeping an eye out yourself? Do folks usually get up there every year, or only after storms?
Honestly, just eyeballing it from the driveway isn’t enough, especially after a big storm. I’ve seen roofs that looked fine from the ground but had lifted shingles or hidden leaks up close. Personally, I’d say get a pro up there every couple years, not just after storms. It’s cheaper than fixing water damage later... trust me.
That’s been my experience too. I used to just check the roof from the yard and figured if nothing looked off, I was good. But last year after a big windstorm, I actually got up there (with my heart in my throat, not gonna lie) and found a couple shingles barely hanging on at the ridge. From the ground, you’d never know. Made me wonder how many times I’d missed stuff before.
I do think pros are worth it for a full inspection, but I’ll admit I still do my own quick checks between their visits. Anyone else try using binoculars from the ground? It’s not perfect, but it helped me spot some flashing that was starting to curl up.
Has anyone found a decent way to check for leaks in the attic before they show up as stains? I’ve heard about using a strong flashlight after a storm, but curious if there’s something better. The thought of hidden water damage freaks me out more than anything else...
I get the worry about hidden leaks—water damage is a nightmare. But I’m not totally convinced that just using a flashlight after storms will always catch problems early enough. Sometimes insulation or ductwork hides trouble spots, and by the time you see a stain, it’s already a hassle to fix. Has anyone tried moisture meters? They’re not super expensive and can pick up damp spots before they’re visible, at least in my experience.
About binoculars—
That’s handy, but I wonder if it gives a false sense of security for bigger issues like loose fasteners or cracked vents. I’ve seen things missed even with binoculars. Maybe there’s no perfect solution except more frequent attic checks, even if it’s annoying.“it helped me spot some flashing that was starting to curl up.”
