What Happens at a Roof Inspection?

Why a Roof Inspection Matters in Norwich

Norwich sits in a part of Norfolk that takes a battering from the North Sea. Cold easterly winds, driving rain and the occasional sharp frost all work away at mortar, tiles and flashings year round. Most roofing problems that turn into expensive repairs started small - a loose tile, a cracked flashing, a blocked valley gutter - and could have been caught early with a straightforward inspection.

A roof inspection is not a sales visit. It is a systematic check of every part of your roof covering, from ridge to fascia, carried out by an experienced roofer who knows what early warning signs look like. We recommend one every few years for most Norwich homes, and immediately after any storm, if you notice damp patches inside, or before buying a property.

What We Look at on the Outside

The external survey covers the full roof covering first. For the brick terraces around Aylsham Road and the older Victorian semis in areas like Wymondham, that usually means plain clay or concrete tiles - and we check each run for cracking, slipping, missing nibs and any signs of delamination on older concrete tiles.

Ridge and hip tiles are bedded in mortar, and that mortar gradually carbonates and cracks. We probe the pointing along every ridge line and check that tiles are still secured. Failed mortar here is one of the most common causes of ridge tiles lifting in high winds.

• Flashings: Lead or aluminium flashings around chimney stacks, skylights and abutments are inspected for lifting, cracking or corrosion. This is where water most often finds its way in.
• Valleys: Open or closed valleys collect debris and are a common point of failure, particularly on older Norfolk properties with complex rooflines.
• Guttering and fascias: We check for sagging, cracking, incorrect fall and any signs of overflow staining on the soffit below. Problems here often point to a blocked or undersized system - you can read more about what we look for in our fascias, soffits and guttering service.
• Chimney stacks: Pots, caps, flaunching and brickwork are all checked. Norfolk has a high proportion of older homes with working or redundant stacks, and these are a frequent source of damp ingress.

What We Check in the Loft Space

A good inspection always includes a loft check where access allows. Natural daylight visible through the roof structure is an immediate red flag - but subtler signs matter too. We look for water staining on the rafters, felt that has split or sagged, damp insulation and any evidence of moss or organic growth working through from outside.

We also look at the condition of the sarking felt or breathable membrane. Older properties in areas like Aylsham and the surrounding villages often have brittle, single-layer felt that has perished over decades. When that fails, there is no secondary barrier between the tiles and the timber.

Ventilation is checked too. Poorly ventilated roof voids build up condensation, which mimics a leak and rots timbers just as effectively as rainwater. This is something the National Federation of Roofing Contractors highlights as a commonly overlooked factor in roof deterioration.

What You Get at the End

Once the inspection is complete, we give you a plain-English summary of what we found. If there is nothing urgent, we will tell you that clearly. If there are issues, we explain what they are, why they matter and what options you have - from straightforward roof repairs to a fuller assessment of whether a roof replacement makes more sense on a longer-term cost basis.

We do not pressure-sell from an inspection. Our job is to give you an accurate picture of your roof so you can make an informed decision, whether you choose to act straight away or keep an eye on something for now.

Inspection findings vary considerably. A ten-year-old tiled roof on a well-built 1980s detached in Thorpe St Andrew might need nothing more than some repointing at the ridge. A Victorian terrace roof in the Golden Triangle with the original clay tiles, perished felt and a cracked stack could easily need phased work spread across a couple of years. Every property is different.

How Long Does an Inspection Take?

For a standard semi-detached or terraced house, allow between 45 minutes and an hour and a half. Larger or more complex roofs with multiple pitches, flat sections or several chimneys take longer. We use ladders to access the roof directly where it is safe to do so - a proper inspection cannot be done meaningfully from ground level alone, whatever some services may suggest. Guidance on working at height safely is set out under UK health and safety regulations for the construction industry.

If you would like us to inspect your roof and give you an honest assessment, get in touch for a free local survey. We cover Norwich and the surrounding Norfolk area and can usually arrange a visit within a few days.

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