4 August 2026

How often should you have your roof inspected? One fixed moment a year

One annual roof check at the end of summer prevents the most expensive emergency repairs. What the inspection covers and what it costs.

The rule of thumb is simple: have your roof checked once a year, at the end of summer — before the autumn storms. That timing is no coincidence: the storms lift everything that sits loose, and the freeze-thaw cycles that follow make every small defect bigger. What gets fixed in September cannot blow away in November. After a heavy storm an extra check is wise, even if nothing shows indoors yet.

What a roofer runs through: the tiles and ridge tiles, the sealant joints around chimney, dormer and roof windows, the lead and zinc work, the outlets of the flat roof and the gutters. Ask for photos with the inspection — that way you can compare the roof's condition year on year and see defects coming instead of discovering them through a damp patch.

The costs stay manageable: roofers charge € 45-75 per hour, and small defects are often fixed in the same visit. Resetting a few shifted tiles is a repair of € 125-350 — a fraction of what that same tile costs once it causes a leak in a November storm, with emergency surcharge and consequential damage on top. In between, keeping an eye on things yourself works fine from the ground and the attic; climbing onto the roof is not part of that.

For HOAs, property managers and commercial buildings with large flat roofs, the same principle exists in contract form: a maintenance contract (€ 60-90 per hour) with periodic inspections, outlets kept clear and photo reports. All guide prices are in the price index.