Roof inspections
An honest written assessment of what your roof actually needs — useful before buying, before selling, and before committing to a large spend.
When an inspection is worth having
- Before buying a property. A survey will often say the roof needs "further investigation by a specialist" and leave it there. An inspection tells you what that actually means in pounds.
- Before selling. Knowing what your roof needs puts you in a much stronger position than finding out during a buyer's survey.
- When you've been told you need a new roof. Particularly if the person who told you also offered to supply one.
- After storm damage, including for an insurance claim.
- When something's leaking and nobody has yet worked out why.
- Periodically on an older roof, so problems get caught while they're still small.
A second opinion on a five-figure quotation is one of the cheapest things you can buy.
What we look at
| Covering | Condition of tiles or slates, slipped or missing units, delamination, and how much life is realistically left. |
|---|---|
| Ridge & verge | Mortar condition, movement, and whether a dry system would be appropriate. |
| Valleys & abutments | Lead, mortar and GRP valleys, and junctions with walls and dormers. |
| Chimney | Flaunching, pointing, brickwork and lead flashings. |
| Roofline | Fascias, soffits, guttering and downpipes, and whether water is discharging where it should. |
| Flat roof areas | Condition, falls, ponding and detailing on any flat roof sections. |
| Roof space | Where access allows — underlay condition, daylight where there shouldn't be, damp staining, timber condition and ventilation. |
What you get
A written report setting out what we found, with photographs of anything that matters. Where work is needed we separate it into what needs doing now, what should be planned for, and what's simply worth keeping an eye on — because those are three different things and lumping them together is how people get talked into spending more than they need to.
If we think your roof is fine, the report will say your roof is fine. That's a legitimate outcome and it happens regularly.
We're a roofing contractor, not a chartered surveyor. An inspection from us is a practical assessment of roof condition from someone who fits roofs for a living. It isn't a structural survey, a homebuyer's report or a legal document. If we see something that needs a structural engineer or a surveyor, we'll tell you that rather than guess.
How it works
- Call or email and tell us what's prompted it and where the property is.
- We arrange a time and come out.
- We inspect from ground level, from ladder or tower access where safe, and from inside the roof space where there's access.
- You get a written report with photographs.
- If work is needed, we'll quote it. You're under no obligation to have us do it.
Access matters here too. Some roofs can be assessed properly from a ladder and from inside; some need a scaffold or a different approach to see what's happening at the ridge. We'll tell you up front what we can and can't establish without additional access, rather than producing a report full of caveats afterwards.
What people ask about roof inspections.
Do you charge for an inspection?+
For straightforward quotation visits, no — coming out to look at a job and price it is part of how we work. A full written condition report with photographs, particularly for a purchase or a second opinion, is a separate piece of work. Tell us which you need and we'll be clear about the cost before we come out.
Can you give me a second opinion on another quotation?+
Yes, and we're happy to. Bring us what you've been quoted and we'll tell you what we think, including if we think it's a fair price for the work described.
Will you use a drone?+
Where it's useful and where it's safe and lawful to do so, aerial photography can show detail that's hard to see otherwise. It doesn't replace getting eyes on the roof properly, and it isn't appropriate everywhere — near roads, close to neighbouring properties or in poor weather.
How long does an inspection take?+
Typically an hour or two on site depending on the size of the property and how much access there is. The written report follows afterwards.
Is a roof inspection the same as a survey?+
No. A homebuyer's or building survey is a different thing carried out by a qualified surveyor and covers the whole property. Ours is a practical assessment of the roof by a roofer. They complement each other — surveys frequently recommend exactly this kind of follow-up.
What if you find nothing wrong?+
Then we'll tell you that, and you'll have it in writing. It's a perfectly common outcome and it's worth knowing.
Want to know where you actually stand?
Arrange an inspection and you'll get a written assessment of your roof's condition, with photographs.