How much does a roof inspection cost?
Most roofing contractors inspect a roof for free, because they hope to win the work. An independent inspection by someone with nothing to sell typically costs $150 to $400, a drone inspection $150 to $350, and a full inspection inside a home inspection report $300 to $600. A photo-based check online is free.
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The three ways to get your roof looked at
They cost different amounts because they answer slightly different questions.
- Contractor inspection — usually free. Thorough, on the roof, and followed by a quote. The obvious caveat is that the inspector benefits from finding work.
- Independent inspector — $150 to $400. No work to sell, useful before buying a home or when you want a second opinion on a big quote.
- Drone or photo inspection — $0 to $350. Fast and safe. Shows surface condition, not what is under the shingles.
When free is genuinely fine
If you just want to know whether something is wrong, a free inspection is fine as long as you keep the inspection and the quote separate in your head, and get the findings in writing with photos. Ask which photo shows each problem. A report that names damage without showing it is not evidence.
When paying is worth it
Pay for independence when there is money on the line: a replacement quote you are unsure about, an insurance claim that was denied, or a house you are about to buy. A few hundred dollars is cheap next to a roof.
Start with a free photo check
PointView's free roof check sits before all of this. You photograph your house from the ground, and you get a plain-English report of what is visible, with the photo beside each point, in about five minutes. It will not replace someone walking the roof, and it says so — but it tells you whether that step is worth arranging, before anyone is standing in your driveway.
Related questions
- Should I pay for an inspection before making an insurance claim?
- Documenting the damage with dated photos matters more than paying for a report. If the claim is denied, that is the point to bring in an independent inspector.
- How long does a roof inspection take?
- Thirty to sixty minutes on an average home, longer for steep or complex roofs.
- How often should a roof be inspected?
- Once a year, and after any hail or high-wind storm. A photo check from the ground is an easy way to do the yearly one.