How much does a roofing contractor charge for an inspection?
Short answer. Most residential roofing contractors in Georgia inspect roofs for free, especially for storm damage or replacement estimates. You typically pay only when the report itself is the product, such as a home inspection during a purchase, a structural engineer's evaluation, or a formal roof certification.
Free versus paid inspections
- Storm damage inspection: usually free from storm restoration roofers.
- Replacement or repair estimate: usually free, since it is part of earning your business.
- Leak diagnosis: some roofers charge a service call for detailed leak tracing, sometimes credited toward the repair.
- Roof certification for a sale or an insurer: often a paid service, because it puts the company's name on a written condition statement.
- Home inspection: paid, covers the whole house, and the roof portion may be done from the ground or by drone.
- Engineer inspection: paid, and in insurance claims usually hired by the carrier, not the homeowner.
Why free inspections exist, and how to judge them
For roofers, the inspection is the start of the sales process. That is fine, as long as it is honest. A good free inspection still includes someone physically checking the roof, photos of every finding, a look at pipe boots, flashing, and vents, and a straight answer about whether you need anything at all. If an inspector will not show you photos or pushes you to sign before you have seen them, find another one.
For what a complete visit covers, see what to expect from a roof inspection, and for the warning signs that mean you should schedule one, see signs you need a new roof.