I’m with you—on a standard ranch roof, I just don’t see drones being necessary. I’ve got a 1950s rambler with a pretty gentle pitch, and honestly, a sturdy ladder and some patience have always been enough for me. I like being able to get up there, check the flashing, look for popped nails or soft spots, and actually feel if something’s off. There’s just no substitute for hands-on inspection, especially if you’re detail-oriented.
That said, I can see the appeal if you’ve got a two-story colonial or something with tricky angles. For my neighbor’s steep Victorian, there’s no way I’d risk climbing up there—he actually hired someone with a drone last year after a hailstorm. But for most single-story homes, it feels like overkill and extra expense.
One thing I will say: even if you’re comfortable on the roof, it pays to take your time and not rush. I almost missed a cracked vent boot last spring because I was in a hurry. Caught it before any leaks started, but it was a good reminder that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to roof checks.
There’s just no substitute for hands-on inspection, especially if you’re detail-oriented.
Totally get this. I’ve always felt more confident actually crawling around up there and poking at things—sometimes you can spot a soft shingle or feel a dip that just wouldn’t show up in a photo. One thing I’m curious about: for folks who do their own checks, do you have a set routine or checklist? I tend to start at the gutters, then work my way up to the ridge, but I wonder if there’s a smarter order. Ever found something you’d have missed if you hadn’t checked a certain spot?
I’m with you—pictures just don’t cut it for me either. I always start out checking around the chimney since that’s where I had a sneaky leak once. Didn’t even notice it until I poked at the flashing and realized it was loose. After that, I work my way along the valleys and then the gutters last. Not sure it’s the “right” way, but it’s saved me from a few headaches. Has anyone ever actually found something major just by doing the usual checklist? Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing stuff by not mixing up the order.
Has anyone ever actually found something major just by doing the usual checklist? Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing stuff by not mixing up the order.
Funny you mention that—last fall, I was doing my “usual” lap around the roof (asphalt shingles, Midwest winters, so you know it gets rough). I always start at the gutters because they’re easiest to reach, but this time I decided to switch it up and check the ridge vent first. Ended up finding a squirrel stash of acorns wedged under a shingle right at the peak. No joke, those little guys had chewed through part of the vent screen. If I’d stuck to my old routine, I probably wouldn’t have noticed until water started dripping into the attic.
I guess there’s no perfect order, but changing things up once in a while seems to help me catch weird stuff. Still, I totally get sticking with what’s worked—chimney flashing is like a magnet for trouble on my place too. Roofs are sneaky... just when you think you’ve seen it all, something new pops up.
Mixing up the routine really does make a difference. I’ve seen so many cases where folks just check the “usual suspects”—gutters, flashing—and miss stuff higher up or tucked away. Once, after a hailstorm, I almost skipped the backside of a dormer because it’s a pain to reach. Ended up finding a baseball-sized dent that would’ve turned into a leak by winter. Midwest roofs especially take a beating, and critters seem to get sneakier every year. I still follow my checklist, but now I try to change the order or look from different angles. You’d be surprised what pops up when you least expect it.
