- Just bought my first place last year, and honestly, I was super skeptical about all the “roof checkup” hype.
- Figured if it’s not leaking, it’s fine… right?
- Fast forward to spring—noticed a weird stain on the ceiling in the guest room. Turns out, a couple shingles had slipped after a windy night.
- Called a guy to check it out (no drone, just his ladder), and he found some moss hiding under the overhang too.
- Not gonna lie, I’m still not sold on drones for everything. Feels like you miss the little stuff unless you’re up close.
- But yeah, getting someone up there before things got worse probably saved me from a bigger headache (and bill).
- Roof’s only 10 years old (asphalt shingles), but this climate is rough—lots of rain, random wind gusts.
- Guess I’m learning that “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t really work with roofs… but I’m still not climbing up there myself anytime soon.
Funny how easy it is to ignore the roof until something goes sideways, right? I’ve seen a ton of folks wait for leaks before calling anyone, and honestly, I get it—out of sight, out of mind. Drones are cool for a quick look, but you’re spot on: they just can’t spot moss or loose shingles hiding under an overhang. Nothing beats someone actually poking around up there. Ten years isn’t ancient for asphalt, but with all that rain and wind, stuff just shifts. Sounds like you caught it before it really snowballed... that stain could’ve been a much bigger mess.
Ten years on asphalt isn’t bad, but I’ve seen some roofs start to show wear even sooner, especially in spots that get hammered by wind or shade. Drones are handy for a quick scan, but yeah, they miss the little stuff—like granule loss or soft spots you only feel by walking it. I always wonder if people realize how much a tiny leak can mess up insulation or framing before you even see a stain. Regular checkups seem like a hassle, but they’ve saved me from way bigger headaches down the line.
Drones are handy for a quick scan, but yeah, they miss the little stuff—like granule loss or soft spots you only feel by walking it.
- 100% agree on drones missing things. I’ve seen a roof look fine in pics, but then you step up and your foot sinks a bit... not good.
- Ten years is decent for asphalt, but around here (Midwest), some start curling at 7-8 if the sun’s brutal or there’s overhanging trees keeping things damp.
- Tiny leaks are sneaky. Had one above my bathroom—didn’t spot it until the ceiling started bubbling. By then, insulation was toast and some framing had mold.
- Regular checkups seem like a pain, but honestly, catching cracked caulk or loose flashing early is way less hassle than tearing out drywall later.
- Noticed people skip checking valleys and around chimneys—those spots go first in my experience.
If you’re not comfortable climbing up, at least get someone to walk it every couple years. The cost of ignoring it adds up fast... learned that the hard way.
Had a similar thing happen last year—thought my roof was fine, but during a heavy rain, water started dripping right above my kitchen cabinets. Turns out, the flashing around my vent pipe had cracked. I only caught it because I was up there cleaning out the gutters and noticed a soft spot nearby. If I’d waited for a drone scan or just looked from the ground, I probably would’ve missed it.
I switched to a cool roof coating after that repair (trying to keep things greener and cut down on AC costs), and it’s held up well so far. Still, I make a point to check around the chimney and valleys every spring. It’s wild how fast moss can creep in if you’ve got shade from trees—especially here in the Pacific Northwest.
Honestly, regular walk-arounds have saved me more than once. Not the most fun weekend project, but way better than dealing with moldy insulation or replacing drywall later.
