I’m only a year into owning my place, but I’ve already learned the hard way that ignoring the roof is just asking for trouble. Mine’s got asphalt shingles, and I figured, “Eh, they look fine from the ground.” Turns out, not so much. First spring storm, I found a shingle in my backyard and a tiny leak in the attic. Cue me awkwardly crawling around up there with a flashlight and a bucket.
Here’s what I do now: every couple months, I grab a pair of binoculars and check for anything weird—missing shingles, piles of leaves, or spots where the granules look thin. If I see anything off, I’ll get up there (carefully) and clear out the gutters or pull off whatever’s stuck. Midwest weather is no joke—ice dams last winter almost did me in.
I get what you mean about stuff finding its way in. Squirrels tried to move in through a vent last fall...not fun. Regular checkups aren’t glamorous, but patching a little hole beats replacing half your ceiling.
Binoculars are a game changer—I do the same thing, especially after a windstorm. I’ve got a low slope roof so it’s tempting to just trust what I see from below, but that’s bitten me before. Last summer, I found a soft spot near my chimney that turned out to be a rotted deck board. Ended up patching it myself, but if I’d waited, that would’ve been a nightmare. Curious if anyone’s tried those drone roof inspections? Worth it, or just a gimmick?
Curious if anyone’s tried those drone roof inspections? Worth it, or just a gimmick?
I’ve actually used a drone after a nasty hailstorm last spring. Was skeptical at first, but it picked up a couple of cracked shingles I’d never have spotted from the ground—or even with binoculars. The photos were super clear, which helped when I filed my insurance claim. Not cheap if you hire someone, but if you’ve got access to a drone (or a buddy does), it’s pretty handy. Still, nothing beats poking around up there yourself for soft spots and loose flashing.
The photos were super clear, which helped when I filed my insurance claim.
Had a similar experience after a windstorm—drone shots made it way easier to spot missing ridge caps. I still like to get up there myself to check for moss or soft decking, but the drone definitely saves time (and nerves) on steep pitches.
You nailed it with the drone shots—those things are a game changer for steep roofs. I used to climb up with my trusty old ladder, but after one too many “sketchy” moments (and a pair of ruined jeans), I finally caved and tried the drone route. Still, nothing beats poking around up there for soft spots or those sneaky moss patches that always seem to show up where you least expect. Guess it’s a balance... technology saves your knees, but sometimes you just gotta trust your boots.