How do I check a roof without going on it?

Most roof problems are visible without going anywhere near the roof. A pair of binoculars and half an hour tells you whether you need a roofer, and autumn is the time to find out rather than during the first winter storm.

Safety

What you'll need

• Binoculars
• Torch
• Camera or phone

Step by step

1. Walk the whole perimeter with binoculars.All four sides, in good light. Look for slipped, cracked or missing tiles, and for tiles that look a different colour — often a sign of previous patching.
2. Check the ridge and the hips.The mortar along the ridge cracks and falls out over time. Missing ridge mortar is a common and relatively cheap repair that gets expensive if ignored.
3. Look at the flashing.The lead around chimneys, in valleys and where the roof meets a wall. Lifted, cracked or missing flashing causes more leaks than broken tiles do.
4. Check the gutters and fascia from the ground.Sagging gutters, plant growth, staining down the wall below. Vegetation in a gutter means it has been blocked for a long time.
5. Go into the loft on a bright day, with the light off.Daylight coming through is exactly where the gaps are. This is the single most informative check and it costs nothing.
6. Look for water staining on the timbers.Dark patches, white salt deposits, or a musty smell. Stains show where water has been, even if it is dry today.
7. Feel the felt beneath the tiles.The membrane under the tiles degrades and tears. Where you can reach safely, check whether it is brittle or ripped.
8. Photograph everything and date it.It gives you a baseline to compare against next year, and it is useful evidence for an insurance claim or a quote.

Tips

• Do this in autumn, before the weather arrives. A slipped tile found in October is a small job; found in January it is an emergency call-out.
• After any severe storm, repeat the perimeter check. Damage often shows immediately and insurers expect prompt reporting.
• Get quotes from two roofers for anything significant, and be wary of anyone who knocks on the door offering to fix a roof they have noticed.

Common mistakes

• Climbing onto the roof to look — Falls from height cause serious and fatal injuries every year. Everything worth seeing can be seen from the ground or the loft.
• Ignoring a small stain in the loft — Roof leaks are slow and hidden. By the time it shows on a ceiling, the timbers have usually been wet for a long time.

Questions people ask