Why get a roof inspection?
Most roofs are only looked at when something has gone wrong. A planned look catches small faults, such as a cracked tile, a gap in the ridge or a choked valley, while they're still cheap to fix. It's also useful if a homebuyer's survey has mentioned the roof in vague terms and you want to know whether it's a quick repair or something larger before you commit.
What we check outside
- Tiles and slates: slipped, cracked, missing or showing nail sickness.
- Ridges, hips and verges: loose tiles, failed mortar or dry systems.
- Valleys: debris, worn lead or failed valley tiles.
- Flashing at chimneys, walls and roof windows.
- Chimney stacks: pointing, flaunching and pots.
- Flat roof sections: splits, blisters, ponding, edges and outlets.
- Gutters, fascias and soffits: rot, sagging and blockages.
What we check in the loft
The inside view often tells the clearest story. We look for daylight where there shouldn't be any, water stains on timbers, damp or torn underlay, condensation and mould, and signs of rot or insect damage in rafters and battens. Where spray foam has been applied to the underside of the roof, the timbers may be hidden, which limits what can be inspected; our spray foam removal page explains why.
After a storm
High winds can move tiles or slates just enough to break the seal of the lap without anything visibly falling off. A quick look from the ground may show nothing, yet the next heavy shower finds the gap. After a serious storm, it's worth having the roof checked, particularly ridges, verges and anything around chimneys. If damage is found, photos from the inspection are useful if you decide to contact your insurer.
How the visit works
We look at the roof from the ground and from ladder access where it's safe, and go into the loft where there's a hatch. If you've had a leak, we'll trace it; the steps in our roof leaking guide are the same ones we follow. Afterwards we talk you through what we found in plain terms, separating urgent problems from things to keep an eye on.
Inspections before buying or selling
A homebuyer's report often says something like "the roof covering is dated" or "further investigation by a roofer is recommended". That leaves buyers guessing about cost and sellers wondering what to fix. A roof survey specialist can turn that into specifics: which slopes are sound, which details need attention and whether the covering has years left in it. For sellers, sorting a known problem before marketing the house can avoid an awkward renegotiation later. For buyers, a written quote for any work gives you a firm figure to take back to the seller.
What happens next
If something needs fixing, you get a free written quote for the work. Small jobs are covered on our roof repair page. If the roof is nearing the end of its life, we'll say so honestly; our new roof cost guide explains what goes into pricing a replacement, so you can plan.
Book a roof survey
We cover domestic and commercial roofs across Somerset and Devon, up to about 50 miles from Taunton. Call 07399 680142 or use the contact form, and mention any survey report or photos you already have.