What is a roof inspection, and when should you get one?
Think of it as a physical for the roof. The goal is a clear answer to three questions: is it leaking or about to, is there storm damage worth a claim, and how much life is left.
When to schedule one
- Within days or weeks after a hail or wind storm, while evidence is fresh and you are inside your policy's reporting window.
- Before you close on a house, during the due diligence period.
- Before listing your home.
- Every year or two once the roof is past mid life.
- Any time you see ceiling stains, granules piling in gutters, or missing shingles.
How to get one
Call a local roofing contractor (many inspect for free) or, if you are buying, add a roofer's inspection to your general home inspection. Ask up front whether they will walk the roof, check the attic and send you photos. If someone shows up uninvited after a storm, verify who they are before letting them on your roof; see how to choose a roofing contractor in Georgia.
How to do your own quick check
Between professional visits, use binoculars from the yard, look at gutters and downspout outlets for granules, and check the attic with a flashlight after heavy rain. The Georgia roof maintenance checklist lays out a twice a year routine, and what to expect at a roof inspection explains the visit.