Roofing Surveying Services

Before a roof is repaired, overlaid or replaced, the scope needs to be clear. We review the existing roof, identify the likely failure mechanisms and prepare recommendations that can be used for budgeting, tendering or contractor instruction.

Depending on the roof type, our roofing surveying services may consider:

• Whether the existing covering has reached the end of its serviceable life.
• Whether isolated repairs are likely to be durable.
• Whether the proposed roof system is appropriate for the pitch, exposure and building use.
• Whether the design properly deals with drainage, ventilation, condensation and thermal movement.
• Whether the proposed works should be specified, tendered and inspected independently.

This helps clients avoid vague quotations, inconsistent tender returns and disputes caused by unclear expectations.

BS 5534 is the principal British Standard for slating and tiling. It is relevant to many pitched roof inspections because it deals with the performance and installation of roof coverings, underlays, battens, fixings, laps and resistance to wind uplift.

Our pitched roof surveys may consider:

• Tile or slate suitability for the pitch and exposure.
• Headlap, sidelap and gauge.
• Batten sizing, condition and support.
• Roofing underlay type, condition and installation.
• Fixing patterns, nails, clips and mechanical restraint.
• Ridge, hip, verge, valley and abutment detailing.

Common defects include undersized battens, missing clips, incorrect laps, degraded underlay, poorly restrained verge units and inadequate fixing of exposed roof areas. This makes BS 5534 a key reference for roofing surveying services involving pitched roofs, re-roofing works and disputed slating or tiling installations.

Leadwork is one of the most common sources of roofing defects. BS 6915 provides guidance for fully supported lead sheet roof and wall coverings, including lead sheet sizing, jointing, fixing and movement detailing.

Our leadwork surveys may consider:

• Whether the correct lead code has been used.
• Whether bays, sheets and lengths are appropriately sized.
• Whether thermal movement has been allowed for.
• Whether leadwork has been restrained incorrectly.
• Whether flashings, soakers, valleys, gutters and abutments are properly formed.
• Whether splits, fatigue cracks, staining or water paths indicate systemic failure.

Where leadwork is defective, we set out practical repair options and explain whether isolated correction or wider replacement is likely to be required.

Flat roof failures often arise from poor falls, inadequate drainage, defective vapour control, incompatible materials or weak detailing at upstands, outlets and penetrations. BS 6229 is an important reference point for continuously supported flexible waterproof coverings.

Our flat roof surveys may consider:

• Roof falls, ponding and drainage routes.
• Warm roof, cold roof or inverted roof arrangement.
• Waterproofing condition and termination details.
• Insulation type, continuity and compression risk.
• Air and vapour control layer location and continuity.
• Rooflight, parapet, outlet, abutment and edge detailing.

Where necessary, our roofing surveying services may include recommendations for further investigation such as moisture testing, opening-up, core sampling, thermal imaging or targeted intrusive inspection.

Roofing disputes often become difficult because the parties focus on visible symptoms: a leak, a stain, slipped slates, cracked lead, ponding water or mould growth. Our reports focus on causation.

A typical Strut roof defect report may include:

1. A photographic record of relevant roof areas.
2. Identification of visible defects and vulnerable details.
3. Commentary on probable cause.
4. Reference to relevant standards or accepted good practice where applicable.
5. Practical recommendations for remedial work.
6. Priority levels and, where instructed, budget cost guidance.

Our reports are designed to be understandable for clients while remaining sufficiently technical for contractors, insurers, solicitors or other professional advisers.

BS 5250 is central to many roof investigations because moisture problems are not always caused by external leaks. Condensation, trapped construction moisture, air leakage, inadequate ventilation and poorly positioned vapour control layers can all produce staining, mould, decay and deterioration.

Our moisture-related roof surveys may consider:

• Interstitial condensation risk.
• Surface condensation and mould risk.
• Ventilation provision at eaves, ridges, abutments and roof voids.
• Airtightness and air leakage pathways.
• Vapour control layer position, continuity and penetrations.
• Thermal bridging at junctions, rooflights, dormers and wall interfaces.

Where appropriate, our roofing surveying services may recommend humidity monitoring, borescope inspection, moisture testing, thermal imaging or opening-up to confirm hidden conditions.

Dry fix systems are now common on pitched roofs, but they are frequently installed poorly. BS 8612 is relevant to dry-fixed ridge, hip and verge systems for slating and tiling.

Our inspections may consider:

• Mechanical restraint of ridge and hip units.
• Compatibility of dry verge systems with the roof covering.
• Continuity and weathering at junctions and terminals.
• Evidence of wind movement, displacement or inadequate fixing.
• Whether the system has been installed in accordance with manufacturer requirements.

Dry fix defects can lead to wind damage, water penetration, insecure components and poor long-term performance. We identify whether the issue is product selection, installation quality or wider roof design.

Standards are only useful if the work is delivered properly on site. Where workmanship is in question, we assess the roof as built and consider whether defects arise from poor sequencing, unsuitable materials, inadequate supervision or failure to follow manufacturer guidance.

Typical workmanship issues include:

• Misaligned tiles, slates, valleys, hips or ridges.
• Poorly formed lead flashings and abutments.
• Inadequate fixings or unsupported components.
• Poor mortar work or inappropriate reliance on mortar alone.
• Incomplete weathering at penetrations, rooflights and junctions.
• Lack of evidence for hidden layers such as underlays, battens or vapour control layers.

Our roofing surveying services provide a clear route towards rectification, negotiation or further technical investigation.

1. Initial review – we discuss the issue, review available photographs, quotations, drawings or reports, and agree the correct survey route.
2. Site inspection – we inspect the relevant roof areas, including coverings, flashings, rainwater interfaces, penetrations, roof voids and internal evidence where accessible.
3. Technical report – we provide clear findings, photographs, likely causes, relevant standards commentary and practical recommendations.
4. Next steps – where required, we can assist with specification, tender review, contractor briefing, periodic inspections or dispute support.

This structured approach helps clients move from uncertainty to an evidence-based plan.