FAA Part 107 Licensed Certified Master Inspector®

Roof Inspection in Oregon City & Portland: I Walk Roofs. Most Inspectors Don't.

The roof is one of the most expensive systems on the home. It deserves more than a quick look from a ladder at the eave. I walk roofs whenever it is safe, and I use my FAA Part 107 licensed drone when it isn't. Either way, your report includes high-resolution photos of every finding, not a sentence saying the roof was "not inspected due to height."

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Russ Motyko, Certified Master Inspector, walking a composition shingle roof during a home inspection in the Portland metro area
Two Tools. One Standard.

A roof inspection done right, every time.

Most inspectors pick one. Some only do binoculars from the driveway. Some only fly a drone. I do whichever the roof needs, and I am licensed and equipped to do both. The goal is the same on every inspection: a close look at every square foot of the roof, with photos in your report to prove it.

I walk roofs whenever it is safe.

Walking the roof is the only way to feel soft decking under your feet, lift a shingle to check the seal, and look closely at every flashing, vent boot, and penetration. I walk roughly 80 to 90 percent of the roofs I inspect across the Portland metro and SW Washington.

Many inspectors will only look from a ladder at the eave, or from the ground with binoculars. That misses the parts of the roof that fail first. You deserve better than a one-line note that says "roof not walked."

FAA Part 107 licensed drone, when I can't.

Some roofs simply can't be walked safely. Steep pitches, wet or mossy surfaces, tile, slate, old wood shake, and tall multi-story homes all fall in that category. For those, I fly my drone. The aerial photos and video go straight into your report, with the same level of detail you'd get from a walk.

Flying a drone on a paid inspection requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. I hold one. Many inspectors who fly drones do not, and that's a federal violation, not a small detail.

80–90%
Of roofs walked
Part 107.
FAA-licensed for legal drone use on every inspection
2,400+
Roofs inspected across Oregon and Washington
Why It Matters

Most expensive defects hide where ladders can't reach.

Aerial drone photo of a Portland area roof captured during a home inspection, showing chimney flashing, ridge vents, and plumbing vent boots in detail

A roof "looks fine" from the ground until it doesn't.

Cracked plumbing vent boots, lifted step flashing at the chimney, soft spots in the decking, hail bruising, nail pops, exposed nails, separated kickout flashings, blocked valleys, missing drip edge — these all hide in plain sight from the curb. A ladder at the eave doesn't help much either.

When I walk a roof, I find these things. When I drone a roof, I find them too. When someone takes a glance from the front yard, they don't. That's the difference between a roof report you can act on and one that just says "appears serviceable."

The replacement cost of a roof in the Portland metro is well into the five figures. Knowing the actual condition before you close is worth doing right.

What I Inspect

Every roof. Every penetration. Every flashing.

Whether I walk it or fly it, the same things get checked. Findings are photographed, explained in plain language, and rated by severity in your report.

Roof covering — composition, architectural, metal, tile, slate, or wood shake. Age, wear, and damage.
Flashings — chimney, sidewall, headwall, step, kickout, and apron.
Valleys — open, closed, woven. Debris, wear, and leak signs.
Penetrations — plumbing vent boots, furnace and water heater B-vents, attic fans, satellite mounts, solar mounts.
Ventilation — ridge vents, soffit vents, gable vents, attic fans. Balance and blockage.
Drip edge — present, missing, or damaged at eaves and rakes.
Gutters and downspouts — slope, attachment, debris, rust, splash blocks, discharge points.
Fascia, soffit, and trim — rot, peeling paint, rodent or bird entry points.
Chimney crown and cap — cracks, deterioration, missing rain cap.
Attic side — staining, daylight, soft sheathing, framing concerns, and ventilation from underneath.
The Drone, Specifically

A judgment call, made on every roof.

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

This is the federal credential required to operate a drone for any commercial purpose, including a paid home inspection. I'm certified and current. The drone carries a 4K high-resolution camera that captures detail from a safe distance — close enough to see a cracked vent boot, a popped nail, or a worn flashing edge. Every relevant image goes into your report alongside the rest of the roof documentation.

Conditions where I may use the drone

None of these are automatic rules. They're conditions I weigh on site, every roof, every time. Sometimes a steep roof is still walkable. Sometimes a low-slope roof isn't. After 2,400+ inspections, the call gets easier to make.

Steep pitch

The steeper it gets, the harder the call. Around 8/12 and up I'm usually leaning toward the drone, but dry conditions and the right surface can change that.

Ice or heavy wet moss

Slick conditions raise the risk of slipping and of damaging the shingles. Wet alone is usually fine. Heavy wet moss or ice may tip the call to flying it instead.

Fragile materials

Tile, slate, and aged wood shake can crack underfoot. On those roofs I'll often fly to avoid causing damage, but condition and pitch factor in too.

Multi-story with limited access

When ladder access to the roof edge isn't safe or available, the drone gets the same coverage from the air.

Common Local Findings

What I see on Portland metro roofs.

The Pacific Northwest climate is hard on roofs. Wet winters, mossy trees, freeze-thaw cycles, and long stretches of overcast all leave their mark. These are the findings I document most often.

Moss and lichen growth

Heavy moss lifts shingles, traps moisture against the deck, and shortens roof life dramatically. Read more on roof moss.

Missing or damaged drip edge

Older Portland homes were often built without drip edge. Water sneaks behind fascia and into the soffit. More on drip edge.

Aged composition shingles

20- to 25-year shingles past their service life are common. Granule loss, curling, and exposed nails are all flagged with photos.

Failed chimney flashing

Step and counter flashing at the chimney is one of the most common leak points. I check it on every roof, walked or droned.

Cracked plumbing vent boots

The rubber gaskets around plumbing vents dry out and split after a decade or so. Easy fix, but easy to miss from the ground.

Rodent and bird entry points

Lifted ridge caps, gaps at fascia, and damaged gable vents are entry points. More on rodent damage at the roofline.

How I Stack Up

My roof inspection vs. a typical one.

This isn't every inspector. Plenty do good work. But this is what's typical across the Portland metro, and it's worth knowing what you're paying for.

Roof Inspection Method Trusted Home Inspections Typical Portland-area Inspector
Walks the roof when safe ✓Yes, 80–90% of roofs walked ✕Often just ladder at the eave
Uses a drone when walking isn't safe ✓Yes, included Sometimes, often extra cost
FAA Part 107 licensed to fly ✓Yes, current Part 107 certificate ✕Many fly without one (not legal)
Photos of every roof finding in the report ✓Yes, plus video where helpful Limited, often none
"Roof not inspected due to height/pitch" disclaimer ✓Rare — drone covers what walking can't ✕Common
Attic-side roof check (decking, leaks, framing) ✓Yes, every inspection Sometimes
In the Report

What roof findings look like in your report.

Example roof finding from a Trusted Home Inspections home inspection report, showing a close-up photo of a cracked plumbing vent boot with severity rating and recommended action

Photos, location, and what to do about it.

Every roof finding in your report includes a close-up photo, a clear description in plain language, the location on the roof, and a severity rating so you know how urgent it is. Where it adds clarity, I include short video clips.

You can share the report directly with your roofer or contractor for an estimate, with no back-and-forth and no "well, what did the inspector actually mean?" Reports are delivered through Spectora. Most go out the same day.

If you have questions after you receive the report, call or text. Unlimited follow-up is part of the service.

Frequently Asked

Roof inspection questions, answered.

Yes, whenever it is safe to do so. Roughly 80 to 90 percent of the roofs in the Portland metro can be safely walked, and that is what I do. Walking is the only way to spot soft decking, lifted shingles, failing flashings, and damaged penetrations up close. When a roof is too steep, too wet, too fragile, or too tall to walk safely, I use my FAA Part 107 licensed drone.

Many will only look from a ladder at the eave, from the ground with binoculars, or with a drone they may not be licensed to fly. It is faster and less physical. The trade-off is that small but expensive defects — cracked vent boots, lifted step flashing, hail bruising — are easy to miss from a distance. I walk roofs whenever it is safe because that is where the most valuable findings are.

Yes. I hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the federal credential required to fly a drone for any commercial purpose, including paid home inspections. Flying a drone on a paid inspection without a Part 107 certificate is a federal violation. Many home inspectors don't realize this and fly anyway.

It's a judgment call I make on site. Steep pitches, ice, heavy wet moss, fragile materials like tile, slate, or aged wood shake, and multi-story homes with limited ladder access all push me toward the drone — but none of them automatically. A steep roof in dry conditions may still be walkable. A low-slope roof with the wrong surface may not be. After 2,400+ inspections, the call gets easier to make. Either way, the drone captures high-resolution images of the entire roof, all flashings, valleys, ridges, and chimneys, and the photos go straight into your report.

I inspect the roof covering, flashings at walls and chimneys, valleys, plumbing and furnace vent boots, ridge and soffit ventilation, gutters and downspouts, drip edge, fascia and visible roof framing from the attic side. I document the age and condition of the covering, note any active leaks or stains in the attic, and photograph every significant finding. See the FAQ page for more.

No. A full roof inspection, walked or droned, is included in every standard home inspection at no extra cost. So is the drone work when it is needed. See full pricing at trustedhome.org/pricing.

Moss is one of the most common issues in Portland metro homes because of our wet climate and tree cover. Heavy moss lifts shingles, holds moisture against the deck, and shortens roof life. I document moss coverage in the report and note whether it's cosmetic or already damaging the roofing material.

Yes, almost certainly. I serve a roughly 35-mile radius from Portland, covering all of Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties in Oregon, plus Clark County, Washington. Oregon City is home base.

Get a roof inspection done right.

Walked when safe. Droned when not. Photos in your report either way. Schedule online any day of the week, or call and we'll talk through your inspection.

(971) 202-1311 Schedule Your Inspection →