Paper or app, something always gets missed—been there. I lean toward apps since I can add photos, but nothing beats seeing it in person. Those pine needles are sneaky, especially around chimneys. Early detection really does save you a ton of trouble down the line.
I get the appeal of apps—photos are handy for tracking changes over time, especially when you’re dealing with spots like roof valleys or chimney flashing where debris loves to hide. Still, I’m a bit skeptical about relying on digital checklists alone. In my experience, nothing replaces a thorough walkaround. Pine needles, yeah... they’ll wedge themselves into places you’d never expect, and if you’re not physically up there, you’ll miss them. I’ve seen more than one “clean” roof catch fire because of a handful of dry needles tucked behind a vent. Early detection’s great, but it’s only as good as the inspection itself.
That’s wild—didn’t realize dry needles could be that much of a fire risk, especially if they’re tucked away where you can’t see them. I’m honestly a little paranoid about my own roof now. I’ve been using one of those checklist apps to try and stay on top of things, but you’re right, it’s not the same as actually getting up there. Anyone tried using drone cameras for this kind of inspection? Wondering if that’s a decent middle ground for people who aren’t super comfortable climbing ladders but still want a closer look.
I get where you're coming from—climbing up on the roof isn’t exactly my idea of a good time either. I tried a drone last year after my neighbor’s pine dumped needles everywhere. It was decent for spotting obvious piles, but honestly, it missed stuff tucked behind vents or under the eaves. The camera angle just isn’t perfect unless you really know how to fly it. Still, better than nothing if ladders freak you out. I’d say do a combo: drone for a general scan, then maybe check the edges from a window or with binoculars if you can. It’s not foolproof, but it helps me sleep a little better at night.
I hear you on the drone thing—it’s helpful, but not a silver bullet. I’ve found that no matter how careful I am, those pine needles still sneak into spots you just can’t see from the ground or even with a drone. I’ve started using a leaf blower with an extension from the edge of the roof—awkward, but it gets under the eaves better than anything else I’ve tried. Not perfect, but it beats risking a fall. The combo approach is really the only way I’ve managed to keep things reasonably clear.
