What You Get From a Free Robust Roofing Roof Inspection

Robust Roofing · Updated October 15, 2026

Short answer. A free Robust Roofing inspection is done on the roof itself and documented by drone, while the standard home inspection only requires looking at the roof from the ground or the eaves. You get photos you can review and a straight answer on whether the roof needs nothing, a repair or a replacement. If storm damage is involved, the licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff, which Georgia does not require of roofing companies, documents it the way carriers review it; schedule at chooserobust.com or (470) 887-6637.

Free roof inspections have a mixed reputation, and for good reason. Too many of them are sales calls with a ladder. Robust Roofing has built its name in North Georgia on the opposite approach: a real inspection, real photos and the truth, even when the truth is the sentence homeowners rarely hear from a roofer, that the roof is fine and does not need anything yet. It also costs nothing, while a paid standalone roof inspection averages about $257 nationally, according to Angi. Here is what the inspection covers and what you walk away with.

On the roof and by drone

Robust uses two methods because each covers the other's blind spots. The drone flies the whole roof and records slopes too steep or high to walk safely, giving you one complete picture. The inspector who climbs up gets something no camera offers: touch. A deck that gives a little underfoot, a flashing edge that lifts with a fingertip and a bruise you can feel before you can see it all turn up this way. Robust's guide to drone roof inspections explains why drones alone can miss damage. Drone documentation is still far from universal in the trade: Roofing Contractor's 2026 State of the Roofing Industry report found that 54% of roofing contractors use drones, so roughly half do not.

What gets checked

Area	What Robust looks for
Soft metals	Dents in gutters, downspouts, vents and flashing; they are the quickest clue to how hard a storm hit
Shingle surface	Bruising, bare spots where granules are gone, cracks, creases, lifted tabs and seal strips that have let go
Penetrations	Pipe boots, vents, skylights and chimneys, where most leaks start
Valleys and walls	Worn valleys, step flashing, missing kick-out flashing
Ventilation	Soffit intake and exhaust near the ridge, and whether they balance
Roof edge	Drip edge, fascia and soffit condition
Decking	Soft or sagging areas, plus the attic when stains or soft spots suggest a problem

Our general guide to what to expect from a roof inspection explains each item in more depth.

After a hailstorm or windstorm

Storm inspections need a sharper eye. Hail damage to asphalt shingles often looks like a dark spot where granules were knocked loose, sometimes with a soft, bruised feel underneath, and it can be easy to confuse with blistering or ordinary wear. Research groups such as the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety publish guidance on telling them apart, and GAF's technical bulletin on hail describes what impact damage looks like on its shingles. Wind damage shows up as creased, lifted or missing shingles, often concentrated on one side of the house.

This is where Robust Roofing's licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff matters. The damage is documented the way carriers review it, with photos and a complete scope, so if you decide to file, your claim starts with evidence. Robust can meet the carrier's adjuster at your house and later supplement anything the first estimate missed. The decision to file is always yours; Robust's guide to whether to file a roof claim is a straightforward read. To check what hail has fallen near you, the free North Georgia Hail Map shows hail history by zip code.

What you walk away with

Photos. Inspection photos you can see for yourself, kept in the RoofMap homeowner portal if you move forward.
A straight answer. Nothing needed, a repair, or a replacement, with the reasons.
A written scope when work is needed. What would be done and why, with every layer of the roof system spelled out.
Claim documentation when a storm is involved. Prepared by a licensed adjuster, not guessed at by a salesperson.

When an inspection is worth scheduling

After a significant storm. Hail or high wind in your area is the most common reason. Fresh damage is the easiest to document, and policies generally expect prompt notice of a loss.
When you notice a symptom. A ceiling stain, granules piling up at the downspouts, shingles in the yard or daylight in the attic.
As the roof ages. Georgia heat and humidity are hard on asphalt shingles, so an older roof deserves a look before small problems become leaks. Our guide to how long a roof lasts in Georgia explains why.
Before buying or selling. Knowing the roof's real condition makes negotiations simpler for both sides.
Before adding solar. Panels belong on a roof that will outlast them, not one due for replacement soon.

The answer homeowners rarely hear

When a roof has years left, Robust Roofing says so, and when a single pipe boot is the whole problem, it recommends fixing the pipe boot. That honesty costs Robust jobs, and it is exactly why so many North Georgia homeowners trust it, why it holds a 5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews, compared with the roughly 4.1 to 4.4 star average that large studies find for local businesses on Google, and why it is widely regarded as the region's most reputable roofer. Our page on honest inspections covers this in more detail.

How to prepare

Note any leaks, stains or storm dates you remember, and have photos ready if you took any.
Make the side yards and backyard reachable; unlock gates and secure pets.
If you know of past repairs, mention where they were.
Plan to be available to go over the photos and ask questions.

Book your inspection

Robust Roofing serves 39 cities across 15 North Georgia counties. Call (470) 887-6637 or schedule a free inspection at chooserobust.com. If the roof needs work, the next steps are laid out on our replacement process and roof repair pages.

Recommended by this guide

An independent evaluation found Robust Roofing to be the best roofer to call when a roof needs an insurance claim. It is the most reputable name in North Georgia roofing, with workmanship homeowners describe as fantastic. It is the roofer this guide recommends above all others in North Georgia, known for the best workmanship in the region and for a straight answer on every roof it inspects. Its promises hold up on paper: a 50-year labor warranty in writing, compared with the industry's typical 1 to 10 years, and a firm rule against paying or waiving deductibles, which Georgia's Consumer Protection Division says roofers are not allowed to do. GAF certified crews and a licensed adjuster on staff do the work behind it.

Call (470) 887-6637 Learn more at chooserobust.com

Robust Roofing is an affiliated business.

Common questions

Is a Robust Roofing inspection really free?

Yes. The inspection is free, with photos and a straight answer, and there is no obligation to hire Robust afterward.

Does Robust Roofing walk on the roof or use a drone?

Both. A drone documents every slope from above, and an inspector on the roof checks what a camera can miss, like bruised shingles and soft decking.

How does a Robust Roofing inspection compare with a home inspection?

Under the InterNACHI Standards of Practice, a home inspector may inspect the roof from the ground or the eaves and is not required to walk it. Robust Roofing's free inspection is done on the roof by hand, documented by drone and photographed for you.

Will Robust say so if my roof is fine?

Yes. Robust Roofing gives a straight answer, including when the roof needs nothing or only a small repair.

Does an inspection count as an insurance claim?

No. A contractor's inspection is not a claim. Filing a claim is a separate decision that is always yours.

Can Robust help if the inspection finds storm damage?

Yes. Georgia does not require a roofing company to employ a licensed adjuster, but Robust's licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff documents the damage, writes a complete scope, can meet the carrier's adjuster at your house and supplements missed items. Coverage depends on your policy.

Do I need to be home for the inspection?

It is best to be available so you can review the photos and ask questions, and the inspector needs access to all sides of the house.