Roof maintenance checklist
Updated August 2026
Most roof maintenance is inspection: look it over from the ground twice a year and after every major storm, then clear debris and moss and check the flashing and sealant. You are hunting for lifted, cracked, or missing shingles and any daylight or staining in the attic. An asphalt roof lasts 20 to 25 years when it is watched, and catching a small leak early beats an $8,000–20,000 replacement forced by rot.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Scan the roof from the ground with binoculars | Twice a year | 15 min · DIY |
| Look for lifted, cracked, curling, or missing shingles | Twice a year | 10 min · DIY |
| Check the attic for stains, daylight, or damp insulation | Twice a year | 15 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Clear leaves and branches off the roof and valleys | Yearly | 30 min · DIY |
| Inspect flashing at the chimney, vents, and skylights | Yearly | 20 min · DIY |
| Reseal pipe boots and exposed nail heads | Yearly | $10–30 DIY |
| Treat moss and algae streaks | As needed | $0–100 DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Have a roofer do a hands-on inspection | 3–5 years | $150–400 pro |
| Trim back overhanging limbs | As needed | $200–600 pro |
What neglect costs
A roof rarely fails all at once. One cracked pipe boot or a wind-lifted shingle lets a trickle in, and for months it wicks into the decking and rots the plywood before a ceiling stain ever shows. By then you are not paying for a $20 boot, you are paying for sheathing, insulation, drywall, and sometimes framing. Moss is the slow version, holding moisture against the shingles until they curl and fail early. Deferred until the deck goes soft, the job jumps from a spot repair to a full $8,000–20,000 tear-off.
Leave these to a pro
Anything that means walking the roof is a pro call, both for your safety and because an experienced roofer spots the failing flashing and nail pops you miss from the ground. A hands-on inspection runs $150–400, often credited toward any repair, and is smart every 3 to 5 years or before you buy a home. Leave steep-slope and multi-story work, flashing rebuilds, and any active leak to a licensed roofer; a botched DIY patch on a two-story roof is how small leaks and falls both happen.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
How often should a roof be inspected?
Twice a year is the standard, ideally in spring and fall, plus a check after any storm with high wind, hail, or heavy debris. That cadence catches seasonal damage before the next weather season piles on. Older roofs, past 15 years, benefit from a professional hands-on look every 3 to 5 years, since they sit closer to failure and small problems escalate faster. A post-storm inspection also documents damage for an insurance claim while the evidence is fresh.
Can I inspect my roof without getting on it?
Yes, and for most homeowners you should stay off it. A pair of binoculars from the ground shows lifted, missing, or curling shingles, sagging rooflines, and debris caught in the valleys. The attic tells you the rest: on a bright day, look for pinholes of daylight, dark water stains on the sheathing, and damp or matted insulation. Walking the roof is dangerous and can crack shingles, so save the actual climb for a roofer, who can confirm anything you spot from below.
How long does a roof last?
A standard 3-tab asphalt roof lasts about 20 years, architectural shingles 25 to 30, metal 40 to 70, and tile or slate 50 or more. Climate is the big variable: intense sun, hail, and big freeze-thaw swings all shorten it. Ventilation matters too, because a hot, poorly vented attic cooks shingles from below and can knock years off. Staying on top of small repairs is what gets a roof to the top of its range. See how long a roof lasts by roofing type.