ROOF SURVIVED HURRICANE, BUT WAS IT JUST LUCK?

Has anyone actually had luck with regular walk-around inspections, or is it just wishful thinking to catch issues before they turn into a disaster?

Honestly, walk-arounds are better than nothing, but they’re not foolproof. You can spot missing shingles or obvious damage, sure, but a lot of the real trouble - like loose flashing or soft spots - hides up top where you can’t see from the ground. I’ve seen folks swear their roof was fine until water started dripping through the ceiling. If you’re not ready to shell out for a new roof, at least get someone up there every couple years. It’s cheaper than emergency repairs after a storm rips things open.

- Walk-arounds catch the obvious stuff - missing shingles, big branches, etc. - but a lot hides where you can’t see unless you’re actually up there.
- I’ve seen roofs look fine from the ground, then you get up close and there’s cracked flashing or popped nails just waiting to let water in.
- After hurricanes, I always tell folks: if you can’t get on the roof yourself, pay someone who knows what to look for. It’s way cheaper than dealing with soaked drywall and ruined insulation later.
- Luck’s great, but a little paranoia goes a long way with roofs... especially after a big storm.

I’ve seen roofs look fine from the ground, then you get up close and there’s cracked flashing or popped nails just waiting to let water in.

That’s spot on. I can’t count how many times I’ve inspected a “good” roof only to find loose ridge caps or tiny punctures in the membrane. Even a handful of lifted nails can let water creep in over time. Did anyone check the attic after the storm? Sometimes you’ll spot faint water stains or damp insulation before you see anything outside. It’s not always luck - sometimes it’s just hidden damage waiting to show up months later.

- That’s a good point about checking the attic. I almost skipped it after our last storm, but found a small wet patch on the insulation - nothing outside looked off at all.
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“Even a handful of lifted nails can let water creep in over time.”

I get the urge to just DIY it, especially when nothing looks wrong from the outside. But honestly, I’m not sure it’s always worth calling a pro unless there’s obvious damage or leaks. I crawled up after a storm last year and found a tiny drip - turned out to be a cracked vent boot, which I patched myself. That said, I do wonder if I’m missing stuff a pro would catch. Is it overkill to get an inspection every time, or am I just being too cautious?

I get where you’re coming from. After a big storm last spring, I thought my roof looked fine - no missing shingles, no leaks inside. Decided to skip calling anyone. Three months later, I found water stains in the attic from a tiny shingle lift I’d missed. Sometimes the damage isn’t obvious right away. I’d say inspections aren’t always overkill, especially if your area gets hammered by storms.

Luck might play into it a little, but I’ve learned the hard way that even if everything *looks* alright after a hurricane, there can still be hidden problems. A couple years ago, we had a nasty one come through (I’m on the Gulf Coast), and I figured my asphalt shingle roof was solid - no obvious damage, nothing blown off, no leaks. Fast forward to the next heavy rain and suddenly I had a slow drip in the garage. Turns out, a few shingles lifted just enough for water to sneak under, but you couldn’t see it from the ground.

After that, I started checking inside the attic after every big storm. Found wet insulation once that hadn’t made it to the ceiling yet - saved myself some headaches by catching it early. It’s wild how wind can work nails loose or curl up edges without tearing things off completely.

I get what you mean about inspections sounding like overkill sometimes. Still, compared to what water damage costs (and dealing with insurance adjusters who want “evidence of storm-related loss”), I figure spending an afternoon poking around is worth it. Plus, peace of mind isn’t nothing.

Curious if anyone’s tried using those drone cameras for post-storm inspections? I’ve been considering picking one up since my roof’s pretty steep and getting up there isn’t getting any easier as the years go by... Wondering if they actually catch small stuff like lifted shingles or if you still need to get up close.

You nailed it - just because a roof looks fine from the ground doesn’t mean it’s all good underneath. I’ve seen a few jobs where wind got under the shingles and you’d never spot it unless you checked up close or poked around in the attic like you did. Those slow leaks are sneaky.

About drones, I’ve used one for quick checks on steep roofs. They’re decent for spotting missing shingles or obvious issues, but honestly, small stuff like lifted edges or loose nails can be tough to catch unless you get real close with the camera. Still, way safer than climbing, especially if your roof’s steep. If you go that route, try to get one with a high-res camera and zoom - you’ll catch more details that way.

That’s exactly what I worry about - my place “looked fine” after last year’s storm, but a couple months later I found a water stain in the guest room closet. Turns out a shingle had lifted just enough for rain to sneak in, and I never would’ve caught it from the ground. I’ve thought about drones too, but like you said, unless you’re zooming in real close, it’s easy to miss the little stuff. Still, way better than risking a fall. Good call on poking around in the attic - sometimes that’s where the real story is.

That’s what gets me - how often do we just assume “no news is good news” after a storm? I always wonder, is there a way to catch those sneaky leaks before they show up as stains? Do you think thermal cameras or moisture meters help, or is that overkill for most folks? I’ve had tenants swear the roof’s fine, then months later, surprise... mold behind a wall. Makes me think regular attic checks might be more useful than just eyeballing the shingles from outside.

A basic moisture meter can be useful for attic checks when you compare a suspicious spot on roof framing or sheathing with nearby material that appears dry. It is less useful as a stand-alone tool around insulation, where readings can be harder to interpret.

Thermal scans can help flag temperature differences that may point to moisture or missing insulation, but they do not confirm a roof leak by themselves. A scan is most useful for narrowing down where to inspect more closely and, if needed, verify with a moisture reading or other inspection.