There’s a balance between thorough and alarmist, and sometimes those checklists get a little out of hand... especially after a storm when everyone’s on edge.
Totally agree with this. After the last hailstorm, my inspection report was like 30 pages—half of it was stuff like “minor granule loss” or “slight discoloration.” Here’s how I handled it: 1) I highlighted only the items marked as “needs repair” or “safety concern.” 2) Anything labeled “cosmetic” or “monitor” went on my “maybe someday” list. 3) I asked the roofer to walk me through the big stuff in person. Saved me a lot of stress (and probably money). Not every little thing needs fixing right away, especially if the roof’s still doing its job.
Not every little thing needs fixing right away, especially if the roof’s still doing its job.
That’s the truth. I’ve seen reports where they’ll flag every tiny scuff or spot, and folks start thinking their roof’s about to collapse. After that big windstorm last year, I had a homeowner call me in a panic over “minor granule loss” too. We walked the roof together and most of it was just normal wear. Sometimes those reports read scarier than they really are... It’s smart to focus on the actual repairs and safety stuff first.
I totally get what you mean about those inspection reports. I just bought my first place last fall, and when I got the inspection back, it was like reading a medical chart for a spaceship. Every little thing was circled in red—“minor blistering,” “slight discoloration,” “possible nail pops.” I started googling all the terms and convinced myself the roof was about to cave in. Turns out, most of it was just normal stuff that happens over time.
My neighbor’s been here for decades and laughed when I showed him the report. He said if he fixed every “potential issue” they listed, he’d never have any money left for vacations. I guess there’s a balance between being proactive and just getting scared by technical language. The inspector even told me in person that the roof’s got a good 5-7 years left, but the PDF made it sound like I needed to call in a SWAT team.
I do wonder, though—how do you know when something like “granule loss” is actually a problem? Mine has a few spots where you can see the black underlayer, but no leaks or anything. Is that just cosmetic, or should I be worried? I’m in the Midwest, so we get a lot of hail and wind, but nothing’s come through yet.
I’m trying to keep up with maintenance without going overboard. I did patch a couple of lifted shingles after a storm, but otherwise, I’m just watching for leaks or soft spots. It’s kind of wild how much these reports can freak you out if you’re not used to them. Maybe they’re just covering their bases for liability reasons? Either way, I’m learning to take it all with a grain of salt... but still, every time it rains hard, I find myself staring at the ceiling just in case.
I did patch a couple of lifted shingles after a storm, but otherwise, I’m just watching for leaks or soft spots.
- Totally get the “medical chart for a spaceship” vibe. Inspection reports love to make everything sound dire.
- Granule loss: if you’re just seeing a few black spots and no leaks, usually not urgent. Happens with age and hail.
- Midwest weather’s rough on shingles, but unless you’re seeing curling, cracking, or actual leaks, it’s mostly cosmetic.
- Liability’s a big part of why inspectors flag everything. They’d rather over-report than miss something major.
- I’ve seen roofs with “possible nail pops” last another decade. Keep patching lifted shingles and watch for soft spots—sounds like you’re on top of it.
- I still stare at my ceiling every time it storms, too... occupational hazard?
That “spaceship medical chart” line made me laugh—inspection reports do have a way of making even minor stuff sound catastrophic. I get why folks get nervous reading them. I’ve inspected roofs where the report listed “possible fastener uplift” and “localized granule loss,” and the homeowner was convinced the whole thing needed to be torn off. Meanwhile, it was a 12-year-old architectural shingle roof with just a couple of storm scars and no leaks.
Honestly, I’d rather see a few lifted shingles patched promptly (like you did) than have someone ignore actual soft spots or water stains. Granule loss is one of those things that’s easy to overthink—unless you’re seeing bald patches or the shingle mat showing, it’s usually just age or hail, not an emergency. Midwest weather’s brutal, but I’ve seen roofs with “nail pops” flagged last for years with just basic maintenance.
I do wish reports would separate “watch this” from “fix this now.” Liability’s a real thing, but it can make the whole process feel way more dramatic than it needs to be. Still, can’t blame anyone for staring at the ceiling during a thunderstorm... I do it too, even though I know exactly what’s up there.
