**Once a year, plus after any significant storm** — and Houston justifies a tighter schedule than most of the country.
When inspections matter most:
– **Annually,** ideally in late fall before winter rain and after hurricane season closes.
– **After any hail or high-wind event,** even if nothing looks wrong from the ground. Hail bruising doesn’t leak for 12 to 36 months, and claim deadlines run from the date of loss.
– **Before buying or selling** a home.
– **At year 15** on an asphalt roof, then annually after — this is when small problems start compounding.
– **After any nearby construction** or tree work.
What a real inspection covers: shingle condition and granule loss, flashing at every penetration, pipe boots, valleys, ridge and hip caps, decking condition from inside the attic, ventilation adequacy, gutter attachment, and evidence of prior repair work.
What it shouldn’t include: pressure to sign anything on the spot. An inspection is information, not a sales appointment.
The value of an annual inspection isn’t finding disasters — it’s knowing whether you have two years left or ten, so a roof replacement is a planned expense rather than an emergency.