What Happens at a Roof Inspection?

What Does a Roof Inspection Actually Involve?

A roof inspection is a systematic check of every part of your roof — not just a quick glance from the pavement. A good inspector will assess the tiles or slates, the flashings, the ridge, the guttering, and any chimney stacks or flat roof sections. The goal is to find problems early, before a minor leak becomes a costly repair job or worse, a full roof replacement.

In Wells-next-the-Sea and along this stretch of the North Norfolk coast, roofs take a serious battering. Salt-laden winds off The Wash accelerate the decay of mortar, corrode metal fixings, and degrade felt underlays faster than you'd see inland. That makes regular inspections particularly important here, not just something you arrange when you already suspect a problem.

The Step-by-Step Process of a Roof Survey

We start from the ground, scanning the roof with binoculars or a camera pole to spot obvious issues — missing, slipped or cracked tiles, sagging sections, and blocked gutters. This gives us a baseline picture before anyone goes up. It also means we can explain what we're looking at with you before we climb.

From the roof itself, we check each section in sequence:

• Tiles and slates: Looking for cracks, delamination, nail sickness (where nails corrode and tiles slip), and any areas where moss or lichen has lifted the surface.
• Ridge and hip tiles: Mortar on ridge tiles is a common failure point in coastal areas. Crumbling or hollow-sounding pointing means water can get behind the tiles.
• Flashings: Lead or mortar flashings around chimney stacks, skylights and abutments are checked for cracking, lifting or open joints. If your flashing is failing, our lead work service covers repairs and full replacements.
• Valleys: These low points collect water and debris and are a frequent source of leaks, particularly in the autumn when leaves wash down from mature trees.
• Flat roof sections: Any outbuildings, extensions or dormers with flat roofs are checked for pooling, membrane splits and perimeter seal failures — common issues we see regularly. See our flat roofing page for more detail on what we look for.
• Chimney stacks: We inspect the brickwork, the flaunching (the cement cap), the pots and the lead or mortar flashing at the base. Chimney stacks on older Wells properties — particularly the Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the quay — are often overdue attention.

After the external check, we go into the loft space where access allows. Daylight showing through the roof, damp patches on the felt or timbers, or a musty smell are all signs of water ingress that may not yet be visible from outside.

What Gets Checked on the Guttering and Fascias?

Gutters, fascias and soffits are part of a proper inspection, not an afterthought. Blocked or leaking gutters allow water to saturate the fascia boards and eventually the wall below. Sagging gutters are often caused by rotted fascia boards that can no longer hold the brackets firmly. Our fascias, soffits and guttering team handles these repairs as a separate service if issues are found.

In coastal locations like Holkham, Stiffkey and Blakeney, plastic uPVC guttering generally holds up better than painted timber, but it still needs to be checked for joint failures and sagging caused by UV degradation over time.

What Happens After the Inspection?

Once we've completed the survey, we produce a straightforward written report — no jargon — that lists everything we found, ranked by urgency. Some items, like a handful of slipped tiles, need attention soon. Others, like early moss growth, can be monitored. We photograph everything so you can see exactly what we're describing.

We'll explain which issues are minor repairs, which might grow into larger jobs if left, and whether any section of the roof is approaching the end of its serviceable life. For roofs that are beyond economic repair, we'll discuss whether a roof replacement makes more sense than continued patching. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors recommends that homeowners have their roofs inspected every five years as a minimum — more frequently for older properties or those in exposed coastal positions.

If planning permission might be relevant — for example, if structural changes are needed — we'll flag that too. You can check the rules at GOV.UK's planning permission guidance.

Book a Free Roof Survey in Wells-next-the-Sea

Whether your roof is showing obvious signs of wear or you simply haven't had it checked in a few years, an inspection is the sensible starting point. We cover Wells-next-the-Sea and the surrounding villages including Burnham Market, Fakenham, Holt and the wider North Norfolk coast.

Contact us to arrange a free roof inspection — we'll come out, take a proper look, and give you an honest written report with no obligation to proceed.

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