How often should you inspect your roof?
Updated July 2026
Inspect your roof twice a year (a ground-level walkaround with binoculars each spring and fall), plus after any major hail, wind, or ice storm, and bring in a professional every 2–3 years (or after suspected hail damage, when an insurance clock may be ticking). You're not climbing anything: the twice-yearly look is about catching a $300 repair while it's still a $300 repair.
What changes the interval
| Your situation | Interval | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles under 10 years old | DIY look twice a year | Young roofs mostly fail at penetrations and flashing, visible from the ground |
| Asphalt shingles 15+ years old | Twice a year + pro every 2 years | Past mid-life (15–30 yr typical), wear accelerates and hides better |
| After hail or 50+ mph winds | Within days | Insurance claims often have 6–12-month filing windows |
| Overhanging trees | Add a post-storm check each time | Abrasion and dropped limbs are the top localized-damage source |
| Tile, metal, or slate roof | Pro every 2–3 years | Longer-lived materials, but walking them causes the damage; leave it to pros |
| Any ceiling stain or attic daylight | Pro now | Interior evidence means water has already been traveling for a while |
The cost of skipping it
What skipping it costs: a lifted shingle or cracked pipe boot is a $150–500 repair the day you spot it. Undetected, water follows the sheathing: rotten decking, wet insulation, stained ceilings ($1,000–5,000), and a chronic leak can drag a roof that had years left into an early $10,000–30,000 replacement. Missed storm damage has a second cost: insurers commonly require claims within 6–12 months of the storm.
How to do it (20 minutes from the ground · binoculars, no ladder)
- Walk the full perimeter with binoculars: look for missing, cracked, curling, or lifted shingles and any exposed black underlayment.
- Study the flashing points (chimney, vents, pipe boots, skylights, valleys) where the majority of leaks start.
- Check the gutters for heavy granule accumulation (bald shingles age fast) and the downspout splash for granule piles after storms.
- Inside: scan the attic with a flashlight for water staining, damp insulation, or daylight at the ridge/valleys, and ceiling corners for stains.
- Log what you see (photos date-stamp themselves) so slow changes are visible year over year; OnOtto keeps the history with the recurring task.
Knowing the interval is the easy half. OnOtto reminds you at the right interval, and it won't let you snooze it into next year. Tasks persist until they're done, and completing both roof checks schedules the next one automatically.
Put this on autopilot, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Should I walk on the roof to inspect it?
No, for safety and for the roof. Binoculars from the ground catch most of what matters; a drone photo set is even better. Walking asphalt scuffs granules, walking tile cracks tiles, and falls from residential roofs are among the most common serious DIY injuries. The things a walkaround can't see are exactly what the every-2–3-year professional inspection ($150–400) is for.
What does a professional roof inspection include, and what does it cost?
Typically $150–400: on-roof examination of shingles/tiles, all flashing and penetrations, seals and boots, plus attic-side checks of decking and ventilation, ending in a written condition report with photos. Free inspections from roofing contractors can be fine, but understand the incentive: a paid independent inspection has no repair to sell.
How do I know if hail actually damaged my roof?
From the ground: dented gutters, downspouts, and AC fins are the proxy evidence; if soft metal took hits, shingles likely did too. On the roof (pro): dark bruises where granules were knocked away, often with a soft spot beneath. If nearby metal is dented after a hailstorm, get a professional inspection promptly and photograph everything; the insurance filing window is commonly 6–12 months.
How long should my roof last?
Typical US ranges: 3-tab asphalt 15–20 years, architectural asphalt 20–30, metal 40–70, concrete tile 50+, slate a century. Ventilation, shade/moss, storm history, and installation quality move every number, which is why inspection frequency should climb as the roof passes mid-life.