What a roof inspection covers
A roofer's inspection looks at the parts of the roof that keep water out and the structure that holds it up. Depending on access, that usually includes:
- Tiles or slates: slipped, cracked, flaking or missing pieces, and the general state of the covering
- Ridges, hips and verges: loose or cracked mortar, or failing dry-fix systems
- Valleys, lead flashings and soakers around chimneys, walls, dormers and roof windows
- Flat roof areas: splits, blisters, ponding and soft decking
- Gutters, fascias and downpipes
- From the loft: underlay condition, daylight through the tiles, damp staining, ventilation and the state of the timbers
When to get a roof survey
- Buying a house: a general building survey may only note the roof from the ground. A roofer's view helps you understand what work could be coming
- Before selling: fixing small faults first avoids surprises when the buyer's surveyor visits
- After storms: high winds can lift tiles and ridge pieces that are not obvious from the street
- On an ageing roof: if the roof is getting on, knowing whether it needs repairs or a full replacement helps you budget
- Before other work: such as a loft conversion, solar panels or new roof windows
Roof maintenance after the inspection
An inspection is most useful when it leads to sensible roof maintenance. That might be a few slipped tiles refixed, a ridge rebedded or gutters cleared. Where repairs are needed, our roof repairs service can follow on. If the covering has reached the end of its life, our new roofs page explains what a re-roof involves, and the guide how long does a roof last? gives a sense of what to expect.
What affects roof survey cost
We do not publish a fixed fee. The main things that affect roof inspection cost are the size and height of the house, how safely the roof can be reached, whether loft access is available, how many separate roof areas there are and whether you need a written report. Lee will explain what is included before he comes out.
Drone roof surveys
A drone roof survey uses a camera drone to photograph the roof from above, which can be helpful on tall or fragile roofs where ladder access is difficult. It gives a good overview of the covering, but it cannot press on a soft deck, lift a tile or see inside the loft. Drone pilots must also follow Civil Aviation Authority rules. For many homes, a hands-on inspection from a ladder and the loft tells you more.
Choosing who inspects your roof
An inspection is only as good as the honesty of the person doing it. Read our guide on how to choose a roofer for the questions worth asking. To book a roof inspection near you in Essex, call Lee on 07947 758052 or send us a message.
What you can check yourself
Between inspections, a few checks from the ground and the loft are worth doing. Use binoculars to look for slipped or missing tiles, gaps along the ridge and lead that has lifted around chimneys. In the loft, look for daylight through the roof, damp patches on the timbers or insulation, and torn underlay. Never climb onto a roof yourself. If you spot something, a professional inspection will confirm what it is.