We’ve explained what happens during a free inspection — this is the companion piece: the actual checklist. Partly so you know what you’re paying for (nothing, in our case), and partly so you can sanity-check anyone who claims to have inspected your roof in four minutes flat.
The covering, slope by slope
Each roof slope gets read separately, because they age separately: slipped, cracked, delaminating or missing tiles and slates; the pattern of previous repairs (five mismatched tiles tell a story); moss depth and where it’s feeding water; on slate, the telltale angles of slipping that mean fixings are failing rather than individual slates.
The lines: ridge, hips, verges
The roof’s edges are mortar country on older Bristol homes. We check ridge and hip tiles for movement and the state of their bedding, verge mortar for cracking and gaps, and whether previous repointing was done properly or smeared on. Loose ridge tiles are a storm hazard as well as a leak path.
The junctions: where roofs actually leak
Chimney flashings, valleys, abutment walls, dormer cheeks — the junctions fail long before open slopes do. We look for lifted or cracked lead, mortar fillets doing a job lead should do, mastic “repairs” over failed flashings, and valley debris. This section of the checklist finds the cause of most active leaks.
The roofline and rainwater path
Gutters (falls, joints, blockages), downpipes actually connected to drains, fascia and soffit condition, and staining on walls below the gutter line — the evidence of where water has been going. Roofline problems masquerade as roof problems constantly; see our gutter maintenance post for why.
Inside: the loft check
Torch and patience: daylight through the covering, staining on rafters and battens (old dry stains vs live damp), insulation condition, condensation on the membrane, and any historic repairs visible from below. The loft converts guesses into evidence.
What you should receive afterwards
Photos of everything flagged, plain-language explanation, a clear verdict — nothing needed / repair / bigger conversation — and if work is proposed, a written itemised quote you can actually read. An inspection that ends in vague urgency and a round number hasn’t inspected anything.
Due a proper look? Book a free inspection — the checklist above is exactly what you’ll get.