Free Drone Roof Inspections in Northern MN & WI
Catch Roof Problems Before Damage Spreads
Professional roof inspection gives a clear look at the condition of your roofing system. The process looks for visible wear, aging components, and problems in the areas around your roof that may need attention. In Duluth and the Northland, it also means looking closely for storm damage, ice dam stress, leaks, and seasonal wear from heavy snow and freezing temperatures.
Most homeowners don’t realize their roof has damage until it shows: a stain on the ceiling, a loose shingle after a windstorm, or a leak during the spring thaw. These small issues often develop slowly and become bigger, costlier repairs. Roof assessments bridge that gap and help you move forward with the right roofing service.
Empire Roofing has provided thorough roof inspections throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Whether your roof is aging, has visible storm damage, or hasn’t been looked at in years, an inspection helps you catch small problems early and keep your home protected season after season.
Start With a Clear Look at Your Roof
A professional roof inspection gives you the full picture of your roofing system, so any repair or replacement is based on what your roof actually needs.
What a 20-Point Professional Roof Inspection Includes
A roof inspection is a full review of your home’s roofing system and nearby areas that may show signs of damage, moisture, or normal wear. The process includes checking the roof surface, shingles or panels, flashing, vents, gutters, and the roof edges where water damage quietly develops. Our team uses drone imaging on most inspections. It lets us get close-up detail on steep pitches, high roofs, and damaged areas without walking sections that aren’t safe to walk, and it captures the kind of photo record insurance adjusters want to see.
Accessible spaces like the attic may also be checked for water, moisture, or ventilation issues. The goal is to identify any issue and see if these are isolated or part of a larger structural concern. For Northland properties, the inspection also accounts for seasonal conditions. Snow buildup, ice dams, high winds, hail, and freeze-thaw cycles affect different parts of the roofing system. That’s why a 20-point roof inspection carefully checks the full roofing system, rather than looking at each visible problem as its own.
You will get a clear, written report that details what the inspection finds and whether any roofing work is needed. If there is visible damage, we’ll explain how serious it is and what the service options look like. There is no pressure to schedule a repair on the spot.
Practical Benefits of a Roof Inspection
Clear roof assessments help you make better decisions for your home. When scheduled regularly, it protects your home from costly damage common in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Early Damage Detection
Missing shingles, cracked flashing, and small leaks are easy to overlook from the ground. A thorough inspection helps catch these issues early, before a heavy rain or the next snow load. It prevents a minor repair from becoming widespread rot or mold.
Ice Dam Prevention
Duluth averages roughly 90 inches of snow a year, and homes here are built to a 60 psf ground snow load under the Minnesota State Building Code, higher than most of the state. That’s a lot of weight sitting on your roof all winter. Ice dams are a separate problem: they form when heat escapes through gaps in attic insulation or ventilation, melting snow that refreezes at the roof edge. A proper inspection checks both, so you can fix the cause instead of chipping ice off your gutters every February.
Extended Roof Lifespan
Normal aging affects each roofing system. Regular inspection and roof maintenance help address normal wear from aging roofs. It helps catch and fix minor issues early, helping prolong the lifespan and reliability of your roof.
Storm Damage Documentation
A professional inspection helps you manage storm damage with proper photos and detailed documentation to support your claim. That documentation matters when your adjuster comes out, so the condition of your roof is on record before any repairs start.
Improved Energy Efficiency
Your attic has more to do with roof performance than most homeowners expect. Gaps in insulation or ventilation let heat escape in winter and build up in summer. Roof inspection identifies any gaps so your heating and cooling equipment works efficiently and your bills stay manageable.
A roof inspection gives you clarity to move forward with the right service for your roofing system. It also provides peace of mind that your home is able to hold up fine, throughout each season.
Check Your Roof Before the Next Season Arrives
A proper roof inspection helps you identify and fix roofing issues before the next winter or spring storm arrives.
Signs It Is Time to Have Your Roof Checked
You don’t have to wait for an active leak to schedule an inspection. Consider having your roof reviewed if any of these signs apply to your home:
- Your roof is 15 years or older: An inspection determines if an older roof still has useful service life, or has age-related wear and helps you plan ahead.
- Loose, curling, or cracked shingles: You notice missing, damaged, or curling shingles. These leave the structure underneath exposed to wind and moisture.
- Leak or a water stain on your ceiling: Dripping water or stains in your walls or ceiling means the problem has already worked its way through your roof.
- After a Hailstorm: Hail can bruise or crack shingles that are easy to overlook from the ground.
- Heavy snow or ice buildup this winter: Snow load and ice dams put additional pressure on your roof over time.
- Frequent high winds: Strong winds can lift or loosen shingles even when the rest of the system looks intact.
A thorough roof inspection is also helpful before buying or selling a property, after seeing changes in your roof’s appearance, or if you want to make sure your home is ready before the next hard season.
Complete Roofing Services After Roof Inspection
Empire Roofing provides a full range of roofing services across northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, from Duluth and Hermantown to Cloquet, Two Harbors, the Iron Range, and Superior, WI. Depending on the findings, the service may include a targeted repair, storm damage roof repair, or a full tear-off and replacement.
Asphalt Shingle Roof Services
Asphalt shingles are reviewed for missing, cracked, lifted, worn, or storm-damaged areas. We’ll walk you through repair or replacement options based on what the roof actually needs.
Metal Roofing Services
Metal roofing is checked for visible panel damage, affected fasteners, loose seams, and flashing concerns. We also check the surrounding areas for weather exposure, since damage there affects how the whole roof performs. Metal roofing replacements are also available for homeowners considering roof upgrades.
Storm Damage Inspection
A focused assessment after hail, wind, heavy snow, or another severe weather event. Our roofing team checks and documents visible storm damage, and provides a detailed report on the roof’s condition.
Roof Repair
Localized leaks, damaged shingles, flashing problems, and small issues are addressed with targeted roof repairs. The team recommends this when the surrounding structure remains intact.
Roof Replacement
Empire Roofing explains roof replacement options when damage has spread to other parts of the roof, or an older roof has deteriorated beyond repair. Our goal is to help you plan a new roofing system.
Each service starts with a clear, thorough inspection. Our goal is to give you a practical recommendation and let you decide on what to do next. That’s how Empire Roofing works with a higher level of service, from the initial inspection until our last day on site.
Why Northland Homeowners Trust Empire Roofing
Empire Roofing has served homeowners and property owners throughout the Northland for more than 25 years. This experience gives our team a local understanding of how roofing systems are affected by northern Minnesota conditions. From heavy snow, ice, high winds, hail, and seasonal temperature changes, we’ve handled roof damage across every season.
We are a GAF Master Elite contractor, a certification held by fewer than 2% of roofing contractors in North America. GAF requires proper licensing, full insurance, ongoing factory training, and a verified track record with customers, and the status has to be re-earned every year. This means we bring high roofing standards and professional training to each roof inspection and roofing work that follows.
Our team provides free, honest inspection for every home. We will tell you when your roof only needs targeted repairs. We will also be honest when it needs a full tear-off and replacement. If your roof is in good shape, we’ll tell you that too. We are not here to push you into a service that your roof doesn’t need.
What Customers Say About Our Work
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Erik, Google Review
“After looking around for a local company to address issues with my roof and gutters, I found Empire Roofing. I was thoroughly impressed when the rep flew a drone around my house to detail issues and damage. I was given an explanation of what they saw in basic terms and the rep gave my many options on how to handle that would best fit my budget. They did not try to sell me on things that I wouldn’t need, which means a lot to me as a consumer. Everyone I spoke with was very professional and any issues were addressed promptly. I would highly recommend Empire for any roofing and gutter needs, and look forward to working with them again in the future when the need arises!”
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Jean J., Google Review
“Just shows what a family-owned business can do right! Go Nelsons! Michael was quick, professional and right on with his estimate. We were amazed at the speed and timeliness of the work on our garage. The office staff was great to work with on the invoice and billing. Would use them again in a heartbeat. Surely will for the roofing on our house, coming up.”
Talk With a Local Team About Your Roof
Roof Inspection FAQs
How much does a roof inspection cost?
How long does a roof inspection take?
What does a free 20-point roof inspection include?
Does Empire Roofing inspect for storm damage and help with insurance claims?
Can a roof inspection help me avoid costly repairs?
How often should I have my roof inspected?
Do you use drones for roof inspections?
How much does a roof inspection cost?
Nationally, homeowners pay around $250 for a professional roof inspection, with most falling between $100 and $400. The price depends on the type of inspection: a basic visual check runs $75 to $200, a drone inspection $150 to $400, and an infrared scan $400 to $600. Empire Roofing inspects your roof for free, with no obligation to book work afterward.
How long does a roof inspection take?
Most roof inspections take 45 minutes to two hours. Smaller, simpler roofs are often finished in under an hour. Larger homes, steep pitches, multiple rooflines, or storm damage that needs photo documentation take longer. After the inspection, you will receive a written report that details the findings and what the options are if any damage needs immediate attention.
What does a free 20-point roof inspection include?
Empire Roofing offers a free 20-point roof inspection that covers all major components of your roof. It includes the shingles, flashing, valleys, gutters, ventilation, and overall structural integrity. The team also checks for visible storm damage, moisture intrusion, and normal wear from age.
Does Empire Roofing inspect for storm damage and help with insurance claims?
Yes. Empire Roofing checks for visible damage after hail, wind, or heavy snow. Every storm damage inspection includes photo documentation and a written report you can hand to your insurance company, and we can meet your adjuster on site to walk through what we found and what the repair will cost. Your claim stays in your hands. For general guidance on filing, the Minnesota Department of Commerce Disaster Information Center is a solid, unbiased resource.
Can a roof inspection help me avoid costly repairs?
Yes. Most major roof repairs start as small problems nobody caught in time. A cracked piece of flashing or a few lifted shingles is a quick, low-cost fix. Left alone through a Duluth winter, that same spot can turn into rot, mold, and interior damage. Catching those issues early with a thorough inspection is one of the most reliable ways to avoid a larger repair or roof replacement bill down the road.
How often should I have my roof inspected?
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends a roof inspection twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, plus after any severe storm. In the Northland, spring and fall are the right windows anyway. Spring shows you what the snow load and ice dams did over winter, and fall confirms your roof is ready before the next one.
Do you use drones for roof inspections?
Yes. Empire Roofing uses drone imaging on most inspections. Drones let us document steep, tall, or storm-damaged roofs safely and capture detailed photos of problem areas you can’t see from the ground. You get those images as part of your written report, which is especially useful if you’re filing an insurance claim.
Start With a Free, Professional Roof Inspection
You do not have to guess if your roof needs a small repair or a replacement. Empire Roofing provides free, professional inspection with details of any problem area, and practical options if roofing work is needed.
Contact our team to request a free 20-point roof inspection in Duluth and surrounding Northland communities. Get a higher level of service, from initial inspection to the last day on site. Let’s keep your home well-protected throughout each season.
