How long does a roof inspection take?

No two roofs take the same time, and anyone who quotes one figure for every house is guessing. The biggest factor is how many separate parts the roof has. A simple gable with one covering can be read in a single sweep. A hipped roof with a rear extension, a porch and a garage is really four or five roofs in one, each with its own edges, joints and drainage to check.

Access comes next. A roof you can see clearly from the pavement and the garden is faster than one hidden behind a neighbour's wall or a tall hedge. The covering matters as well, because plain tiles, slates and a flat membrane are each examined differently. A roof that has been leaking also takes longer, since tracing where the water enters means following the stain back along the timbers to its source, and that cannot be hurried.

The visit usually begins on the ground. We look at the whole roof from the street and the garden, noting sagging lines, slipped tiles, gaps along the ridge and the state of the gutters. That first look tells us where to spend the rest of the time, so a straightforward roof does not get the same hours as a tricky one.

Next comes a closer view of the problem areas, from a ladder at the eaves or with a camera on a pole, depending on the roof. Then the loft, if there is a way in. Inside, we look for daylight, damp timber and wet insulation under the spots we flagged outside. Photographs are taken throughout. Our guide to what a roof survey includes goes through each stop in order, so you know what is being checked while we are on site.

A few things add real time, and it is better to know about them in advance. A flat roof needs close inspection of every seam, upstand and outlet, which is slower than reading tiles from a distance. Lead flashings around a chimney need a hands-on look. A loft that is boarded, full of stored boxes or reached through a narrow hatch slows the interior check, because we have to move things to see the timbers.

Old roofs can take longer too. Where the covering is hand-made or the structure has been altered over the years, there is more to read and more to photograph. If a leak has no obvious source, we may need to come back after rain to watch it happen. A guess that misses the cause helps nobody, so you will hear before we leave whether another look is needed.

The hours on site are only part of the work. Going through the photographs, writing up what each one shows and reaching a conclusion happen back at the desk. What reaches you is a set of photographs showing your roof as it stands, with a clear answer on whether it needs a repair, a temporary patch or a replacement, with the reasons behind it.

If work is needed, the written quote follows the survey, at one total price. We will not promise a turnaround before seeing how much there is to write up, and a roofer who does deserves a second question. Ask when you book for the date you can expect the findings. The next page, what a roof inspection report should include, sets out what that paperwork ought to show.

Before you book, ask a few things that settle the timing. How will the roof be reached, and will anyone need to enter the loft? Will you be asked to be present? When will the findings reach you, and in what form? A roofer who answers all three clearly has probably done this many times before.

It is also fair to ask about urgent faults found mid-visit. Active leaks and storm damage come first for us, and an active drip is dealt with ahead of the remaining checks, which can stretch that day. Tell us at the start if water is coming in now, so we can plan for it.

A little preparation shortens the day without cutting any corners. Clear the loft hatch and move boxes aside so we can reach the timbers. Open side gates so the whole perimeter is accessible. Tell us where you have seen damp, drips or stains and roughly when they began, because a clue from you can save a long search across the roof.

If you have paperwork from earlier roof work, such as an old invoice or a guarantee, put it out. It shows what was done before and where. For the wider picture of what happens on these visits, see our roof inspections and surveys page, or read how a roof can be inspected without scaffolding when access looks awkward.