I hear you on the “invisible” stuff—my last roof looked fine from the ground, but after a big storm, I found a cracked vent boot that let water drip right into the attic. It’s always the little things. I’ve started doing a quick check after any major wind or rain, just to catch those sneaky leaks before they turn into a bigger mess. Not sure it’s luck so much as catching problems early... but sometimes it feels like both.
Luck’s overrated when it comes to roofs, honestly. Most of the “invisible” stuff is just what you can’t see from the ground—cracked vent boots, loose flashing, popped nails. I’ve seen folks swear their roof’s perfect until I poke my head up there and spot a water trail or a soft spot in the decking. Those quick checks you’re doing after storms? That’s the real game-changer, not luck. Roofs don’t usually fail all at once; it’s the little things adding up over time. Catching them early saves a ton of headaches (and cash) down the line.
LUCK OR MAINTENANCE? MY ROOF’S STILL KICKING (MOSTLY)
I get what you’re saying about luck being overrated, but I’ve seen some roofs survive hurricanes that had no business staying up. My neighbor’s place, for example—looked like it was held together by hope and a couple of rusty nails, but somehow it made it through the last big storm while my own “professionally installed” shingles went flying like confetti. Go figure.
That said, you’re dead right about the invisible stuff. I used to think if you couldn’t see daylight from the attic, you were golden. Then I crawled up there after a nasty windstorm and found a patch of decking so soft I nearly went through it. Turns out, those little leaks add up over time... and the only thing luck gets you is maybe a few extra months before things go sideways.
I will say, though, sometimes it feels like there’s just no rhyme or reason. Two houses on my street—same builder, same year, same shingle type—one’s leaking like a sieve after every thunderstorm, the other’s bone dry. Only difference? The guy with the dry roof is obsessed with maintenance. He’s up there every spring and fall, checking flashing and cleaning out his gutters like it’s his part-time job. Maybe he’s onto something.
For me, I’ve started doing those post-storm walkarounds (well... more like “stare at the roof from the driveway with binoculars” if I’m honest). It’s not glamorous but hey, found a popped nail last month before it turned into a real problem.
Bottom line: luck might get you through one storm, but regular checkups are what keep your roof from becoming an indoor swimming pool. And yeah, sometimes you just get unlucky anyway—nature doesn’t really care about your warranty or how much you paid for architectural shingles.
Luck’s a funny thing, but I’ll take regular maintenance over a rabbit’s foot any day. I manage a handful of properties and the ones with “lucky” roofs always end up being the biggest headaches down the line. The guy who checks his flashing and clears his gutters twice a year? His repair bills are practically nonexistent. Meanwhile, I’ve seen brand new roofs leak after one bad storm just because no one bothered to check for loose shingles or clogged valleys. Nature’s gonna do what it wants, but a little effort goes a long way—at least you’re not leaving it all up to chance.
Luck might get you through one storm, but it won’t keep the roof over your head for long. I’ve seen folks swear their roof’s “just fine” until a small leak turns into a ceiling stain or worse. What I always tell people: check your attic for damp spots after heavy rain, look for popped nails or cracked shingles, and don’t skip the gutters—clogged ones can back up water under the shingles. Even a quick walk-around twice a year can save you a ton of hassle. Maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it beats emergency repairs every time.
