A good baseline is once a year for a roof under 15 years old, and twice a year — spring and fall — once it’s past that mark. But calendar-based schedules only tell part of the story.
Certain events should trigger an inspection regardless of when the last one happened: any hailstorm or high-wind event in your area, even if you can’t see obvious damage from the ground; before listing your home for sale; after any major tree limb falls near the roofline; and any time you notice a new stain on an interior ceiling.
The inspection itself costs nothing and takes less time than most homeowners expect. An inspector walks the entire roof, photographs anything worth noting, and gives you a written summary — repair, replace, or nothing at all. There’s no pressure to act on it immediately. Think of it the same way you’d think of a car’s oil change reminder: cheap insurance against a much bigger bill down the road.