ROOF SURVIVED HURRICANE, BUT WAS IT JUST LUCK?
Totally agree that just shining a flashlight around isn’t always enough. I’ve had a leak that only showed up as a faint musty smell before I found any stains, and by then the insulation was already soggy. I actually picked up a cheap moisture meter on Amazon last year after a neighbor recommended it—surprisingly useful for catching those “invisible” wet spots in the attic, especially around tricky areas like skylights or valleys. Not perfect, but better than just hoping for the best.
Binoculars are handy for spotting obvious stuff like missing shingles or lifted flashing, but yeah, they won’t catch everything. I missed a cracked vent pipe boot last spring because it looked fine from the ground, and only found it when I crawled up there to check after a big storm. Honestly, attic checks are a pain but probably the most reliable way to catch problems early, even if I have to psych myself up every time.
Hurricane season’s got me rethinking my whole approach… might be time to invest in some better attic lighting or even one of those cheap thermal cameras folks keep talking about.
I hear you on the attic checks—never fun, but I’ve caught more issues up there than anywhere else. I tried one of those cheap thermal cameras last year (the kind that clips onto your phone) and honestly, it was better than I expected for spotting cold spots after a storm. Still, nothing beats crawling around with a good headlamp and getting hands-on. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just delaying the inevitable with these old roofs, but hey, at least we’re trying.
Sometimes I wonder if we’re just delaying the inevitable with these old roofs, but hey, at least we’re trying.
Honestly, I think patching up old asphalt or wood roofs is just kicking the can down the road. After my third “quick fix” in five years, I finally bit the bullet and put on a metal roof with a reflective coating. It wasn’t cheap, but my attic temps dropped and I haven’t had to crawl around up there since. The upfront cost stings, but it’s a lot less stress long-term—especially when storms roll through. Sometimes replacing is just smarter than constant repairs.
Sometimes replacing is just smarter than constant repairs.
That’s fair, but I’ve seen older roofs hold up surprisingly well with regular maintenance—especially if you’re on a tight budget. Not every roof needs a full replacement right away. Sometimes just swapping out damaged shingles and keeping gutters clear buys you a few solid years. Metal’s great, but in some neighborhoods, it’s not always practical or allowed by HOA rules. It really depends on the roof’s age, local codes, and how much you want to spend upfront.
That’s a good point about older roofs—my uncle’s place is pushing 25 years and he’s just kept up with patching and cleaning, and it’s still holding up. I guess sometimes it really does come down to how much you can put into maintenance vs. the cost of a whole new roof. Have you noticed any small leaks or loose shingles since the hurricane? Sometimes the damage isn’t obvious at first. It’s wild how much those HOA rules can limit your options, too... kind of frustrating if you want to upgrade.
