The short answer to how often you should have your roof inspected is once a year, plus after every storm that gets your attention. The longer answer depends on how old the roof is, what it has already been through, and how much weather your part of North Texas has taken this season.
Roof inspection frequency is one of those decisions that costs almost nothing to get right and a great deal to get wrong. A cracked pipe boot found in March is a service call. The same boot found in September, after a summer of rain running into the decking, is a repair with plywood and drywall attached.
Here is a cadence that works for houses around Decatur and Wise County.
The Annual Baseline
For a roof in decent condition, once a year is the floor. An annual look catches the failures that start small and quiet: sealant cracking at flashing, fasteners backing out of vents, ridge caps loosening, boots splitting from UV, gutters pulling away from fascia.
None of those announce themselves. All of them are cheap to fix in the year they appear and expensive to fix after a wet season. Our piece on why you should schedule a roof inspection covers what a yearly visit is really buying.
Adjust the Cadence for Roof Age
Age changes the answer.
Years one through ten. Annual checks are quick. The roof is still sealed and flexible, and the point is early detection plus a maintenance record that supports warranty coverage.
Years ten to fifteen. Still annual, but the inspector should be looking harder at granule loss, sealant strip integrity, valley wear, and flashing fatigue.
Fifteen years and beyond. Twice a year is reasonable. An aging roof fails progressively rather than all at once, and the difference between catching it early and catching it late is often whether the decking survives.
After any major repair or replacement. Get a look at the end of the first year to confirm everything settled and sealed as it should.
Events That Override the Calendar
Some things reset the clock no matter when the last inspection was:
- Hail. Any size. Small stones still scrub granules and bruise mats, and the damage often is not visible from the ground.
- High wind. Straight-line winds crease shingles and break sealant strips without removing anything, so the roof can look untouched from the driveway.
- Tornado-season storms. Debris impact and pressure changes leave damage that shows up in odd places.
- A fallen limb. Even one that seemed to bounce off.
- A new ceiling or wall stain. That is a leak that already happened.
- Other trades on the roof. Satellite installers, HVAC techs, and solar crews all walk slopes and sometimes penetrate them.
- Buying or selling. The roof should be documented before money changes hands.
If damage is involved, timing matters for more than repairs. Policies commonly impose filing windows after a loss, so check yours rather than assuming there is unlimited time.
Seasonal Timing in North Texas
Two windows work best here. Late winter into early spring puts you ahead of hail season, which peaks in the spring months, so anything weak gets addressed before the storms arrive. Early fall catches what a summer of 100-degree days and thermal cycling did to sealant, boots, and fasteners.
Our guide to a pre-season roof inspection explains why the spring timing matters so much in this part of the state.
The Cost of Waiting
Delay is what turns roofing problems into remodeling problems. Water that gets past the underlayment finds decking first, then insulation, then drywall and paint, and it brings mold risk with it. A flashing repair is a small job. A flashing repair plus sheathing plus ceiling work is not.
Waiting also weakens claims. Damage that sat through several more storms is harder to attribute to the storm that caused it. Cannon Roofing documents damage thoroughly and works alongside your adjuster, not as a public adjuster, and prompt documentation makes that work far more effective.
What Should Actually Happen During an Inspection
A real roof inspection is not a walk around the yard. Ours covers every slope, checks flashing at chimneys, walls, and skylights, examines valleys, boots, ridge and hip caps, and drip edge, looks at gutters and fascia, and includes the attic when access allows. You get photos and notes you can keep.
Make It Automatic
The reliable way to keep a cadence is to stop relying on memory. Our protection plan schedules the visits, handles routine upkeep, and produces the documentation for you, which is especially useful for owners who travel or hold multiple properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a roof be inspected in North Texas? Once a year is the baseline for a roof in good condition. Move to twice a year once the roof passes the midpoint of its expected life, and add an inspection after any significant hail or wind event regardless of the calendar.
Does a new roof still need annual inspections? Yes, though the visits are quicker. Annual checks catch fastener back-out, cracked sealant, displaced ridge caps, and storm damage early. They also build a maintenance record that supports manufacturer and workmanship warranty coverage.
What events should trigger an inspection outside the schedule? Hail of any size, a high-wind or tornado-season storm, a fallen limb, a new ceiling stain, work by other trades on the roof, and buying or selling the home. Any one of those overrides the normal cadence.
Due for a look at your roof? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045 or request a free quote. We inspect and document roofs 24/7 across Decatur, Wise County & Greater North Texas.