"Tech's nice, but sometimes just climbing up there and poking around saves you the most trouble (minus the spiders, of course...)."
Yeah, visual checks have saved me headaches too. But how often do you all typically climb up for a thorough inspection—once a year, after storms, or...? Curious what's worked best for others.
I'm pretty new to homeownership myself, but I learned quickly that checking the roof regularly is worth the hassle. When we first moved in, I figured the home inspection covered everything, so I didn't bother climbing up there for months. Then one day after a heavy rainstorm, I noticed some water stains forming on our ceiling. Not fun.
I grabbed a ladder and went up there to see what was going on. Turned out a few shingles had blown loose during the storm, and water was sneaking in underneath. Luckily, it wasn't too bad yet—just needed some quick patching—but it taught me a lesson about staying proactive.
Now I've got a simple routine down that works pretty well:
1. Once in spring, usually around April or May when weather starts clearing up, I climb up and do a thorough visual check. I'm looking for loose shingles, cracked flashing around vents or chimneys, and any signs of moss or algae buildup.
2. After any major storms (especially if there's been strong wind or hail), I'll do another quick check just to make sure nothing's shifted or come loose.
3. In fall, usually October-ish, I do another full inspection while I'm cleaning out gutters anyway—two birds with one stone kind of thing.
Honestly, it's not my favorite chore (spiders aside, heights aren't exactly my thing either...), but it's saved me from bigger headaches down the line. And if you're careful and methodical about it—good ladder placement, steady footing, taking your time—it's really not too bad.
I know some folks prefer drones or binoculars from the ground, but personally I've found nothing beats getting up close and personal with your roof to spot issues early.
I get why you'd prefer climbing up there yourself, but honestly, drones have been a game changer for me. I used to dread hauling out the ladder and dealing with heights (not my favorite either...), but now I just fly my drone up every few months and get crystal-clear images of everything. Plus, it's safer and quicker. Have you tried it yourself or are you just skeptical about the accuracy?
I've seen a few drone inspections done, and yeah, they're quick and safe, but I always wonder about catching the small stuff. Like, can a drone really spot a loose shingle or tiny cracks around flashing? Maybe I'm just old-school (or paranoid, lol), but I trust my eyes and hands more than a camera feed. Do you find you're still climbing up occasionally to double-check things, or has the drone totally replaced the ladder for you?
I get what you're saying—drones are handy, but can they really catch the tiny stuff? I've seen them miss small cracks around flashing before. Maybe it's just me, but I'd probably still climb up occasionally just for peace of mind...
