"Honestly, nothing beats good old-fashioned inspections."
Couldn't agree more. Had a tenant call me last spring about water dripping from the ceiling—turned out a tiny branch had punctured the flashing around the chimney. Would've been a nightmare if we hadn't caught it early. Those mesh guards never worked for us either, especially with all the maple seeds around here...they just pile up and make things worse. Regular checks might be a pain, but they're way cheaper than dealing with mold or structural damage down the line.
"Those mesh guards never worked for us either, especially with all the maple seeds around here...they just pile up and make things worse."
Yeah, I've seen that happen too. Mesh guards seem like a good idea at first, but they can really backfire depending on your local environment. Have you tried any of those foam inserts instead? I know some people swear by them, but I'm still on the fence myself. They seem like they'd trap moisture or debris over time—anyone have experience with those?
Regular inspections definitely pay off though. Last fall, we caught a small leak around a vent pipe during our routine checkup. It was barely noticeable from inside the attic, but when we got up there, the plywood underneath was already starting to discolor. Thankfully it was an easy fix since we caught it early enough. Makes me wonder how many hidden issues are lurking around if you don't check regularly...
Do you guys usually schedule roof inspections seasonally or just after big storms? I've been trying to stick to a seasonal schedule—spring and fall—but sometimes life gets busy and it's easy to let it slide. Curious how others manage their inspection routines without letting things slip through the cracks.
Also, has anyone found drone inspections useful? I've heard mixed reviews—some say they're great for spotting obvious damage quickly, while others think they're more hassle than they're worth because you still need someone physically checking tricky spots anyway. Seems like an interesting option though, especially for taller buildings or steep roofs where safety is a concern.
Either way, catching these little issues early definitely beats dealing with major repairs later on...
I tried those foam inserts a few years back—honestly wasn't too impressed. They seemed promising at first, but after about a season, mine got pretty gunky and started holding water. Ended up pulling them out and going back to the old-fashioned method: climbing up there myself twice a year and scooping out the crud. Not fun, but it beats dealing with soggy plywood or surprise leaks later on...
Yeah, those foam inserts can be hit or miss. I remember helping my uncle install some on his place a while back—same story. They seemed great at first, but after a couple heavy storms, they turned into soggy sponges. He ended up ditching them too and went back to manual clean-outs. It's definitely not the most enjoyable chore, but you're right—beats dealing with surprise leaks or rotted wood down the line. Good call sticking with what works.
- Had better luck here with metal mesh guards—foam inserts were a waste.
- Installed mesh screens 3 yrs ago; leaves mostly blow right off, minimal upkeep.
- Sure, manual clean-outs work, but climbing ladders every season gets old fast...
- Might wanna consider mesh if you ever revisit gutter protection options.
