Always, if it’s safe.
But did you know home inspectors are not required to walk on a roof?
That said, I’ve found it impossible to give a proper inspection without walking on a roof (hail damage is sometimes impossible to see from even 10 feet away), so I will always get up there (sometimes to my own detriment).
If I can’t, then I’ll try to get to the roof’s edge and take the best look I can.
When will I NOT walk on a roof?
When it’s clearly unsafe, or the shingles are too fragile:
- Wood shingles
- Tile or slate shingles
- When the roof is too steep
- When the roof has a steep slope and it’s raining
- After the rain has stopped, but the roof is still wet
- It’s covered in snow
- It’s covered in ice
- It’s covered in moss (this stuff is slick!)
- There’s a serious obstruction like a tree or power line blocking the way.
These conditions are not common, but they do happen, and it’s important to understand the limitations so you don’t have disappointment or unmet expectations later.
So now you may be thinking, “Will the inspector come back later to re-inspect the roof?”
The answer to that question is in Q47.
