Professional vs. DIY Roof Inspections: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

There are two different types of roof inspections that every home needs: ground-level inspections and thorough inspections. Thorough inspections should always be conducted by a licensed roofing professional, but ground-level inspections can be done by homeowners in certain situations. Below, you can learn more about the differences and when you should call a pro. 

When Should a Homeowner Inspect Their Roof?

A ground-level inspection is exactly what it sounds like: looking at your roof from the ground level to see if you can notice any obvious damage. It’s a good idea to do this a couple of times every year and after major weather events that include high winds and hailstones. While you won’t be able to get up close and personal with your roof from the ground - especially if your home has more than one level - there are plenty of things that you can look for and observe. 

• Obvious deformations or missing shingles or tiles - If you see lumps or ripples in your roof, or if there are shingles or tiles missing, it’s time to call a professional for repairs. These things can lead to serious leaks that can quickly cause major damage to your home. 

• Branches and limbs on the roof - If high winds have resulted in big branches or limbs falling on your roof, it’s also a good idea to call in a professional for a more thorough inspection. These can sometimes cause shingles or tiles to shift, and they can even puncture holes in the roof if they land just right. 

• Asphalt granules in the downspouts - If you can do so safely, look inside your gutters for asphalt granules, which are the tell-tale signs of erosion that should be addressed by a pro. If you can’t see inside your gutters, check the area where the water exits your downspouts. You may even see little black bits of asphalt there. 

• Shingles or tiles in the yard - After a major wind event, if you notice shingles and tiles in your yard, call a professional. This indicates that your roof (or a roof near yours) is missing shingles, which can lead to serious problems. 

• Damage to roofs near your home - Finally, even if you can’t see any damage to your own roof, you should still call a professional for help if homes near you have damaged roofs. Ground-level inspections are fantastic, but you won’t be able to see everything. 

When Should You Call a Pro?

Ground-level inspections are excellent for diagnosing potential issues, but they aren’t perfect. Every homeowner should call a professional for a roof inspection at least once every three years, even under perfect conditions. Furthermore, if your ground-level inspection points toward a potential problem, you should call a professional then, as well. It’s always a good idea to call for a professional inspection after any major weather event, even if your ground-level inspection doesn’t reveal anything obvious. Hailstones and wind can cause serious problems that you might not notice from the ground, and the more quickly you can catch these problems, the less expensive the repairs will be. 

In short, a DIY roof inspection is a fantastic option for determining whether there’s any obvious damage to your roof after a weather event, and it’s also a good idea to do now and then just to check for issues. However, a ground-level DIY inspection that you conduct yourself cannot take the place of a professional inspection. If it’s been three years or more since your last one, schedule a roof inspection today.