just read about roof issues popping up after winter - are you checking yours?

I’ve messed around with one of those inspection apps, but honestly, I kept forgetting to update it after the first couple months. It’s a neat idea, but I still trust my own eyes more. Anyone else find those apps actually useful long-term?

I’m with you on this - those inspection apps sound good in theory, but I’ve never seen one that actually replaces a thorough walkaround. Maybe they help some folks keep track of dates or photos, but honestly, nothing beats getting up there and checking for popped nails, cracked shingles, or soft spots yourself. Especially after a rough winter... ice dams and wind can do a number on even newer roofs. I’ll jot down notes on paper before I trust an app to remind me what’s going on up there.

- I get what you mean about the apps. Tried one last fall when my boss wanted “digital records” - ended up with more photos of my boots than the roof, lol.
- Not sure I trust tech to spot those little things, like a shingle that’s just starting to curl or a nail that’s barely poking up. You can’t feel a soft spot through your phone.
- That said, I do like snapping a few pics when I’m up there, just so I remember what I saw (my memory’s not great after a long day).
- After this winter, found a patch of moss under the north gutter - wouldn’t have noticed it if I wasn’t poking around in person. The app just said “all clear” because I didn’t mark anything.
- Paper notes are messy but at least if they get wet, you know you’ve been working hard... or maybe just dropped your clipboard in the snow again.
- Maybe apps are better for big commercial roofs? For my uncle’s little ranch house, old-school walkarounds still win.

Paper notes are messy but at least if they get wet, you know you’ve been working hard... or maybe just dropped your clipboard in the snow again.

Man, I feel this. Last time I tried to take “organized” notes on a roof, the wind caught my notepad and sent it flying into the neighbor’s yard. Ended up chasing soggy paper through a patch of mud - looked like I’d been wrestling raccoons by the time I got back down.

I’m with you on the tech stuff being kinda hit or miss. My boss is all about those inspection apps, but half my photos are just blurry shots of my thumb or the sky. And yeah, you can’t “tap to detect” a soft spot - unless they invent a phone that vibrates when you step on mushy plywood, I’m sticking with my boots and a good old-fashioned poke.

I do like snapping pics for reference though, especially after a long day when everything blurs together. But those apps always want you to tag every little thing and sometimes I just wanna jot “weird moss patch by gutter” and move on. Speaking of moss, found some under the north side of my folks’ place this spring - looked harmless but turned out to be hiding a whole mess of rotten decking underneath. Wouldn’t have caught it if I hadn’t been crawling around up there.

I guess for big flat roofs or commercial jobs, digital records make sense (less chance of losing your notes to a gust of wind). But for smaller houses, nothing beats actually getting up there and poking around. Plus, you get bonus points for surviving another ladder climb without dropping your hammer on someone’s car.

Anyway, after this winter’s freeze-thaw circus, I’m checking every shingle twice. Learned my lesson last year when I missed a tiny crack and ended up with a surprise drip right over my bed in March.

unless they invent a phone that vibrates when you step on mushy plywood, I’m sticking with my boots and a good old-fashioned poke.

That’s exactly it. I tried those fancy apps and just ended up confused (and out $15). My roof’s not huge, so I’d rather crawl around myself - even if it means muddy jeans and a few splinters. Last year, I found a shingle half hanging off behind the chimney - never would’ve noticed from the ground or a photo. Guess sometimes old-school works, even if it’s not pretty.