Independent Roof Surveys

What we inspect

Our roof surveys are structured to identify visible defects, likely causes and the practical implications for repair, maintenance or replacement. We inspect the roof covering, junctions, rainwater discharge, ventilation, insulation, moisture risk, leadwork, flat roof build-ups, chimneys, rooflights, valleys, abutments and areas where workmanship or detailing may affect long-term performance.

Typical inspection areas include:

• Slates, tiles, battens, fixings, underlays, hips, ridges and verges.
• Lead flashings, valleys, gutters, abutments, aprons, soakers and chimney details.
• Flat roof membranes, falls, ponding, outlets, overflows, upstands and parapets.
• Roof voids, ventilation paths, vapour control, insulation and condensation risk.
• Rainwater goods, gutter falls, blockages, discharge points and saturation risk.
• Rooflights, penetrations, flues, plant supports and service entries.
• Evidence of leaks, staining, mould, decay, corrosion or concealed moisture.

Where access is restricted, drone imagery can form part of the roof inspection process. This is particularly useful for chimneys, valleys, high-level roof slopes, parapets and complex roof interfaces. See our Drone Survey service for further information.

Why independent advice matters

A roofing contractor may be the right person to undertake repair work, but they are not always the best first point of advice when the client needs an independent view. An independent roof survey helps separate diagnosis from sales-led recommendations.

Strut can advise whether the issue is likely to be a local repair, a wider defect pattern, poor workmanship, design failure, maintenance issue, material failure or a roof reaching the end of its useful life. That distinction is critical before committing to expensive works.

What you receive

The output can be tailored to the instruction. Some clients need a concise roof condition note. Others require a detailed defect report, remedial schedule, specification, tender pack or project oversight service.

Typical deliverables include:

• Photographic roof condition report.
• Defect schedule with likely cause and priority.
• Repair versus replacement guidance.
• Immediate, short-term and long-term recommendations.
• Indicative cost bands or costed remedial options where appropriate.
• Specification for contractor pricing.
• Tender comparison and contractor appointment support.
• Inspection hold-points and completion verification.

We can also assist with contractor procurement. This may include preparing a clear scope, obtaining quotations, comparing returns and identifying whether prices are genuinely like-for-like.

Where a project proceeds to remedial works, Strut can remain involved to inspect key stages, review workmanship, check compliance with the agreed specification and help avoid repeat defects.

Diagnosis before contractor pricing

A roof survey is most valuable when the client needs clarity before asking contractors to price. Without a clear diagnosis, contractors may price different scopes, recommend different approaches or focus on the work they prefer to undertake.

Strut helps define the problem before the market is asked to price the solution. This makes contractor quotations easier to compare and gives the client stronger control over scope, specification and cost.

Specialist roofing and building pathology experience

Strut’s roof surveying work is grounded in practical construction knowledge, building pathology and extensive experience of roofing systems, defects and remedial works. We consider not only the visible symptoms of failure, but how the roof was designed, constructed, detailed and maintained.

This includes understanding traditional and modern pitched roofs, flat roofing systems, leadwork, interfaces, ventilation, moisture movement, insulation and the practical sequencing of remedial works. Our aim is to provide advice that is technically robust while remaining buildable, priceable and usable by contractors.

Standards-led reporting

Where relevant, we map findings to recognised standards and guidance, including BS5534 Slating and Tiling, BS6915 Leadwork, BS6229 Flat Roofs and BS5250 Condensation and Moisture Risk.

This matters because roof defects are often disputed. Standards-led advice helps move the discussion away from opinion and towards evidence, causation and practical remedy.

Repair versus replacement clarity

Not every roof defect requires a full re-roof. Equally, repeated local patching can become poor value if the defects are widespread or systemic. A roof survey helps clients understand when repairs are proportionate and when a wider replacement strategy should be considered.

Transparent scope and cost advice

Once the survey is complete, Strut can help turn findings into a clear scope of works. This may include material choices, access requirements, likely sequencing, waste handling, contractor risk items, provisional sums and inspection hold-points.

Where required, we can obtain costs from suitable contractors and compare the returns. This allows clients to understand whether prices reflect the same scope and whether exclusions or assumptions create future risk.

Specification, tendering and inspection support

A roof survey can be the first stage of a wider service. After diagnosis, we can prepare specifications, run tenders, review contractor submissions, attend site, inspect key hold-points and confirm whether works have been completed in accordance with the agreed scope.

Roof surveys and roof inspections for existing buildings

Our roof inspection work can support individual homeowners, schools, managing agents, commercial property owners, developers and clients facing disputes following defective roofing work. Inspections can be targeted at a specific leak or defect, or broadened into a wider roof condition assessment where the extent of the problem is uncertain.

Independent advice where conflicts may arise

Where contractor involvement is required, Strut can help maintain a clear separation between diagnosis, specification, pricing and inspection. This gives clients a more transparent basis for decision-making and helps ensure that any remedial works are properly defined before they proceed.