Is a roof inspection necessary?
Short answer. A roof inspection is necessary after any hail or strong wind event, before you buy or sell a home, once a roof passes about 12 to 15 years old, and whenever you see a stain or your insurer asks. On a newer roof with no storms, a quick look every year or two is enough.
Inspections are cheap insurance against two expensive surprises: a slow leak rotting the decking, and storm damage you never claimed because nobody noticed it before the filing window closed.
When it is clearly worth it
- After a storm with hail or high wind. Georgia policies set time limits for reporting damage, and the clock starts at the storm, not when the leak finally appears. Check Georgia hail season for the high risk months.
- Before buying a house. General home inspectors often look from the ground or a ladder. A roofer walking the roof catches bruising, bad flashing and soft decking.
- Before listing a house. Knowing the roof's condition up front avoids a renegotiation after the buyer's inspection.
- Mid life and later. Asphalt roofs in Georgia heat often show their age between 15 and 25 years; see how long a roof lasts in Georgia.
- When your insurer requests one or sends a letter about roof condition.
When you can probably wait
A roof under ten years old, no storms since installation, clean gutters and a dry attic. Do your own ground and attic check twice a year and call if anything changes.
What skipping it can cost
Small problems like a cracked pipe boot or a lifted ridge cap are inexpensive repairs. Left alone, the same drip can soak insulation, stain drywall and soften the plywood, turning a repair into a partial redecking job.