Roof Inspection in Maryland & Virginia

JDH inspections are free of charge for homeowners in our Maryland and Northern Virginia service area. There is no obligation, no upsell pressure, and about 1 in 4 of our inspections result in no recommended work at all. We are not paid on commission, so there is no incentive to invent a problem.

Plan for 60 to 90 minutes on-site. The on-roof phase is typically 30 to 45 minutes; the rest is property review, attic interior work, documentation, and a live driveway review with the homeowner. The full 7-phase process is documented step-by-step.

A standard inspection is typically a 5-to-10 minute visual walk-around or drone overview. A forensic inspection is a 60-to-90 minute on-roof walkthrough that applies the PCC Method to every finding, includes attic verification, and produces adjuster-grade documentation. See the full breakdown at Forensic vs Standard Inspections.

A general home inspector typically spends 10-15 minutes on the roof using binoculars. That is not a sufficient evaluation for a 30-year asset. A forensic inspection from JDH produces an attestation letter, photo + video documentation, and a remaining-life estimate that can satisfy buyer due-diligence and accelerate closings. We routinely produce these for real-estate transactions across Maryland and Virginia.

Yes. Our inspectors hold HAAG Master Certification, the same credential most insurance adjusters carry. The report structure (cause-of-loss, supporting photos, measurement-based degradation findings, pre-loss condition documentation) meets standard adjuster documentation requirements. For storm-related losses, we also meet your adjuster on the roof. See our full insurance claims process.

You get the inspection report on file and we recommend no action. The "no-action protocol" is explicit: if forensic data shows the roof is performing as intended, we say so. About 1 in 4 of our inspections result in zero work for JDH. The documentation still serves you in five years when something changes, for an insurance claim later, or as proof of pre-loss condition.

Drones see the surface. They cannot feel underfoot deflection where decking has weakened, lift a shingle to check sealant bond, or test flashing flexibility. We use drones as a supporting tool, but the on-roof walk is what makes the report defensible to an insurance adjuster or structural engineer. See the methodology comparison at Forensic vs Standard.

Annually for healthy roofs in good condition. Twice a year (spring and fall) for roofs 15+ years old. Always after a major storm event, before a real-estate transaction, or before insurance renewal. JDH inspections are free for homeowners, so there's no cost reason to delay scheduling.

A DIY visual check from the ground can catch obvious problems (missing shingles, sagging, debris). But surface-level issues are only a fraction of what matters: decking moisture, flashing integrity, attic ventilation imbalance, and ice dam evidence all require physical access plus tools (FLIR thermal, moisture meters, snake cameras). For an asset worth $15K-$40K to replace, a professional forensic inspection is the right investment, especially when it's free.

Most roof failures begin invisibly. Hail bruising, lifted shingle seals after wind, granule loss after UV exposure, and early ice dam damage all look normal from the ground but compound for months or years before the leak shows up indoors. The point of an annual inspection is to catch these early, when a repair is still possible instead of a full replacement. About 1 in 4 of our inspections result in zero recommended work, so "no problem found" is a valid and common outcome.