We are frequently asked at LC Joinery Roofing and Building Work whether we conduct roof reports.

As specialists in repair and construction of all types of roofing, the answer is of course, always yes.

We have carried out roof reports for many years and we continue to offer this service, although we now charge for inspections.

These reports are extremely useful to identify any faults or problems before you put your house on the market, for example.

Alternatively, if you have a leaking roof you would be wise to seek to identify the cause of the damage before proceeding with any necessary repairs or replacements.

We ask that you pay for our time so that we are not despatching a qualified roofer to spend a couple of hours crawling about in a roof space and thoroughly examining all aspects of the roof exterior for free.

Ultimately, however, you benefit as the customer from a fully comprehensive inspection by a qualified professional and a detailed written report. Our surveyors are paid for their time so they can give you their honest and impartial findings.

Wouldn’t I know if there was a fault with my roof?

Prevention is better than cure and early intervention can deliver a massive saving over repair work from a small problem grown large.

Let us take the example of something as simple as a blocked gutter.

Simple to see, from the right height, and quick and easy to fix.

But leave it unattended and water will seep into the fascia or the mortar pointing behind the guttering.

Remember the golden rule: rain water, so long as it is kept moving by gravity, will not damage a house with everything in order.

Buildings are designed to shed and channel water so that moisture cannot take hold.

When something goes wrong: for example, a blockage in the drainage system, water pools and has a chance to soak into the fabric of the building.

A blocked gutter could end up costing you hundreds, or even thousands of pounds, depending at what point you notice the symptoms of a problem.

A similar story could be told about all sorts of faults that are invisible until sometimes serious damage has been done.

How would you know about a crack in the flaunching of your chimney until a considerable amount of water had percolated into the fabric of the building and finally made its presence know via mould, wet rot or dry rot, visible in the interior of your house?

What is covered?

Our survey will include:

• Exterior inspection, which will include: Check for structural damage, revealed by leaning or sagging; signs of leaks, ice-damming damage, condition of slates or tiles, condition of skews; condition of soffits, fascias and guttering and chimney stacks; vegetation or moss growth that could promote moisture soak or indicate blocked drainage. Flat roof felt puncture, wear or water pooling; insufficient fall.
• Interior inspection, which will include: search for signs of mould or rotting; investigate any signs of past leaks to identify any current defects; build-up of moisture and condensation; verify sufficient ventilation; check insulation.

Report sections

In our written report we will divide any reported defects into separate classes, identifying:

• Safety Issues:  Need to be dealt with immediately. An example might be loose masonry in a chimney stack, at risk falling to the ground or heavy cast iron guttering that has worked loose and is threatening to fall,
• Major Defects: eg. Several missing or broken tiles or slates together, exposing the underlying roofing structure.
• Repair: eg. Punctured or cracked flashing anywhere on the roof.
• Recommend: eg. Perhaps you should have a chimney cowl but you could manage without one.
• Amber: eg a roof window showing signs of age, but still serviceable. Keep an eye on it.

We will include photographic evidence of your roof and free quotations provided for any works required.

As a courtesy, we will even clean your gutters with each inspection, as preventive maintenance.

About Us

We are trusted and recommended members of the Federation of Master Builders, Guild of Master Craftsmen, the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme.

We’ve been in our premises in Thornton since 2008, so our customers know where we are if they have any questions once we’ve finished the job.

Contact Us

If you would to discuss a roofing inspection and report for your property, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Fife: phone 01592 747 047 Email: [email protected]

Edinburgh: phone 0131 300 0494 Email: [email protected]