5 signs your roof needs an inspection before hurricane season

In Florida, the roof isn't just part of the house — it's the first thing a hurricane tests. Every year, insurance adjusters see the same pattern: a roof that failed during a storm had warning signs for months before landfall. Catching them early is the difference between a repair and a full replacement claim.

1. Lifted or missing shingles/tiles

Walk your property line and look up, not just at the roof from the driveway. A single lifted tile or curling shingle edge is an entry point for wind-driven rain, and it gets worse with every storm cycle — not better.

2. Granule loss in the gutters

If your gutters or the ground below downspouts are collecting what looks like coarse black sand, that's granule loss from asphalt shingles. It means the roof's UV and impact protection is wearing thin faster than its age would suggest.

3. Soft spots or sagging in the decking

From inside the attic, a flashlight check on a dry day can reveal daylight through the decking, water staining, or a soft, spongy feel underfoot near the ridge. That's usually a sign moisture has already gotten in — often before any interior ceiling stain appears.

4. Rust or lifted flashing around penetrations

Vents, chimneys, and AC curb flashing are where most leaks actually start, not the open field of the roof. Rust streaks or flashing that no longer sits flush are worth a closer look before, not during, the next named storm.

5. It's simply due — by material and age

Shingle roofs in South Florida typically run 15–20 years, metal 40–50, tile even longer if the underlayment was replaced on schedule. If nobody can tell you when the underlayment was last done, that's the real number that matters — not just the visible material on top.

A pre-season inspection costs nothing and gives you a documented baseline — useful for your own peace of mind, and for an insurance claim if the season doesn't go your way. If it's been more than a year since anyone looked at your roof from a ladder, this is the month to get it done.