Maintenance checklist

A ground-level roof inspection checklist for homeowners

Homeowner advice from Big Ben Roofing Ltd

A few organised observations can make a maintenance enquiry much clearer. This checklist is for looking from normal, safe ground-level positions and recording changes. It is not a roof survey, a condition certificate or an invitation to investigate areas you cannot see.

Choose a calm day with good visibility. Stay clear of traffic, damaged areas and anything that could fall. Use camera zoom from a stable position if helpful. Leave all ladders, roof access, clearing and testing to a properly planned professional visit.

1. Record the viewpoint before the detail

Take an overall photograph from each accessible side of the property and note which roof it shows. A front main slope, rear extension and shared valley are different areas; labels help avoid confusion later. If a section is hidden by the angle, an adjoining building or vegetation, record it as not visible rather than assuming it is sound.

Keep the original files so that a contractor can see context as well as a close-up. Do not cross onto neighbouring land or stand under a visibly damaged roof edge to improve the photograph.

2. Note visible changes to the covering and junctions

Look for an obvious gap, displaced piece or change from earlier photographs. Note the approximate location, such as near the ridge or beside a chimney. Do not decide from the ground whether a fixing, underlay or concealed timber has failed; those parts may not be visible at all.

Where wall junctions, valleys or rooflights can be seen, record anything visibly different without probing it. SPAB identifies junctions as useful maintenance inspection points. A ground-level observation can flag a concern, while the cause and repair method still need assessment.

3. Follow the visible rainwater route

Look along the gutter line, downpipe joints and the wall below them. Record a hanging section, visible vegetation, an open joint or staining if present. If rainwater behaviour can be observed safely from indoors or shelter, note where it escapes. Avoid going outside during dangerous weather for the sake of completing the checklist.

Also note the condition of the visible fascia and soffit, without assuming that surface appearance reveals what is behind it. Describe loose pieces or a change in shape. Do not pull at trim or cover a ventilation opening.

4. Turn observations into a maintenance record

Create a small record with the date, viewpoint, observation and photograph reference. Separate a new change from a feature that has looked the same for years. When asking for an assessment, mention inaccessible sections and previous repairs, and ask which observations need closer inspection.

Keep the findings and completed-work photographs with that record. Future checks can then compare the same views. HSE guidance explains why fragile roofs require competent assessment; a homeowner checklist should end at recording visible concerns, not testing whether a surface can be walked on.

Copy this observation checklist into your notes

Date, property address and safe viewpoints used.
Roof areas visible, hidden or already known to have been repaired.
Changes to the covering, junctions, roof edges or rainwater fittings.
Photograph references, indoor symptoms and questions for the roofer.

Continue reading

Roof leaking after heavy rain: what to record and what happens next

Record a roof leak safely, distinguish observations from a diagnosis, and prepare useful information for a roofing assessment after heavy rain.

Overflowing gutters, damp walls and roofline problems: what to check

Record gutter overflows and roofline concerns safely, understand why damp needs investigation, and prepare a clear guttering or roof repair enquiry.

Discuss the concern at your property

Send your postcode, the affected roof area and what you have noticed. Include photographs you already have from a safe position so the team can review the next step.

Start a roofing enquiry