Had a similar situation last spring—homeowner insisted everything was "perfectly fine," but when we climbed up, the gutters were basically mini compost bins. Seriously, there were plants sprouting up there... nature finds a way, right? Anyway, it's not always obvious from ground level. A quick peek every few months can save you from surprise indoor waterfalls later on. Learned that one the hard way myself a few years back.
Yeah, I've seen that happen more times than I'd like to admit. But honestly, how often do homeowners actually climb up there themselves to check? Most folks just eyeball it from the driveway and call it good, right? I mean, who really expects a mini garden in their gutters?
Still, you're spot-on about regular checks. Had a tenant once who swore everything was fine until water started dripping from their ceiling after a heavy rain. Turns out the gutters were packed solid with leaves and debris—no sprouts yet, but close enough. Makes me wonder, though: is there really a foolproof way to convince people to get ahead of these things before it's too late? Seems like most of us only learn after experiencing our own indoor waterfall moment...
"Seems like most of us only learn after experiencing our own indoor waterfall moment..."
Yeah, that's pretty much been my experience too. But honestly, even when people do climb up there, how many actually know what they're looking for? I've inspected roofs where homeowners proudly told me they checked regularly, yet completely missed cracked shingles or rusted flashing. Maybe the real issue isn't just convincing folks to check, but making sure they know what to spot before it becomes a pricey headache...
Had my own "indoor waterfall" a few years back—thought I was being proactive checking the roof every spring. Turns out I completely overlooked some subtle flashing issues around the chimney. Definitely agree, knowing what to look for is half the battle...
Been there myself... flashing around chimneys can be sneaky. Even seasoned pros miss those subtle issues sometimes because they're not always obvious until the water starts dripping inside. I remember inspecting a house once—roof looked pristine, but as soon as I got into the attic, there was this telltale dark streak running down from the chimney area. Sure enough, flashing had tiny gaps letting water trickle in for who knows how long. You're totally right about knowing what to look for; experience helps, but even then, roofs have a knack for keeping us humble. Don't beat yourself up over it—it's one of those homeowner rites of passage that teaches more than any manual or video ever could.
