What a roof survey from above finds across a neighbourhood
A roof survey from above turns several hundred roofs into a short list worth a closer look. In about 0.4 square miles of Atherton, California, we outlined 865 roofs: 558 looked good, 223 fair and 2 showed visible damage or heavy wear. It cannot tell a roof's age.
A roof survey from above turns several hundred roofs into a short list worth a closer look. When we searched about 0.4 square miles of Atherton, California, in May 2026, we outlined 865 roofs and graded 783 of them: 558 looked good, 223 looked fair, and 2 showed visible damage or heavy wear. The other 82 could not be graded from the picture. A survey like this shows staining, patches, ponding and tarps. It does not show a roof's age or what is under the surface.
In Atherton most roofs looked fine, a quarter or so were weathering, and two needed someone to look. An older neighbourhood, or one surveyed after a storm, would look different, which is why the survey is worth running on your own area.
What we found in Atherton, California
- Roofs outlined: 865 in about 0.4 square miles.
- Good, clean and even surface: 558.
- Fair, some weathering or staining: 223. These are inspection candidates, not repair jobs.
- Poor, widespread staining, patches, ponding or rust: 1.
- Damaged, tarps, holes or missing sections: 1.
- Not graded: 82, where the picture did not give a clear enough view.
How the roofs were found and graded
We searched in plain words, "roof, damaged roofs in Atherton, California", over Mapbox satellite imagery on 18 May 2026. Our detection model outlined each roof it found. Our condition check then graded each one from above, looking for staining or discolouration, patched sections of a different shade, ponding marks, rust on metal roofs, moss or algae, tarps or missing sections, and debris.
A claim of damage has to say where on the roof it is, so a single dark patch does not become a damaged roof without evidence. We did not check every outline by hand.
What a roof grade from above cannot tell you
- Roof age. A clean roof can be old and a stained one can be new. The grade describes the visible surface only.
- What is underneath. Decking, underlayment, leaks and interior damage are not visible from above.
- Fine detail. The included imagery shows detail to about half a metre per pixel. Hairline cracks, single lifted shingles and small flashing problems are below that scale.
- Today's roof. Each grade comes from one picture, which can be months to about two years old depending on the place. After a storm, first check the picture was taken after it. A fresh capture can be bought separately from satellite providers.
- Roofs under trees. Tree cover and shadow are the usual reason a roof cannot be graded.
A grade from above is a reason to inspect, not an inspection. It does not settle cover, cause of loss or premium.
How underwriters and roofers use the short list
- Search the area for roofs and grade what comes back. Every roof is outlined on the map with its grade, and its area can be measured from the outline.
- Start with the damaged and poor roofs, then decide how far into the fair ones a closer look is worth it.
- Check each picture's date against the decision: a renewal, an application or a storm.
- Assign inspections to your team in Tasks, and present what you found as a deck.
Underwriters can also check a submission against what is visible from above, such as a pool, an outbuilding or a larger footprint than stated. See our insurance page, or our free map of commercial roofs near you if you are a roofer. Pro is $49 a month for one person and covers up to 100 square miles of search a month. Book a demo and bring a neighbourhood you know.
Related guides
- Insurance property review from aerial imagery
- Post-disaster damage assessment with satellite imagery
- How many parking lots in a market need resurfacing
Key takeaways
- In about 0.4 square miles of Atherton, California, we outlined 865 roofs and graded 783.
- 558 looked good, 223 fair, and 2 showed visible damage or heavy wear.
- A grade from above sees staining, patches, ponding and tarps, not roof age or what is underneath.
- After a storm, check the picture was taken after the event before trusting a grade.