Before you sign, know what's above you.
We inspect the visible and accessible roof areas and email you a written assessment letter before you go unconditional. A roof is expensive to put right and hard to read from the footpath, so it is worth checking before you sign.
A proper look at the roof, before you commit.
The roof rarely gets a proper look during an open home, and it is hard to judge from the ground. A pre-purchase inspection is a roofing-focused assessment of the visible and accessible roof areas, carried out before you sign or before your conditions go unconditional.
We inspect what we can see and safely reach, and use a drone where it gives a better view of areas that would otherwise need scaffolding. After the visit we email a written assessment letter: what we observed, and practical comments on anything worth knowing before you commit.
What we check.
The visit focuses on the parts a buyer rarely gets to see: the roof surface, the junctions, the flashings and the spouting. What we can cover depends on the property and safe access on the day, so treat the list below as a guide.
A visual look over the roof, cladding junctions, flashings and guttering, to the extent we can see and safely reach them on the day.
Drone footage where it helps: safe access to steep, high, or hard-to-reach areas without the cost of scaffolding.
A written assessment letter, emailed after the visit, recording what we observed on the day.
Practical comments and options on anything worth knowing about: what it is, and what you might want to do about it.
Photos to help show what we're describing, where they're useful.
You can be there on the day and ask questions on the spot. Many buyers find this the most useful part.
Junctions and flashings are where roofs most often let water past, so we photograph and note them.
Just the roof, in depth.
A building inspection covers the whole house. We look only at the roof, in the detail that part needs.
What the letter is
A written summary of what we observed on the roof, short enough to read in ten minutes and put in front of your partner, lawyer or the vendor. Practical comments, sensible options, and photos of the areas that matter.
Building report
The whole house, top to bottom, in dense formal language. Useful for the full picture.
Assessment letter
The roof only, in language you can use to make a decision.
Engineering report
Structural specifics with a chartered engineer's stamp, when a structural question needs answering.
The scope is deliberately narrow. We report on the visible and accessible roof areas as observed on the day. It is not a full building report and not an engineering report. If we see signs that point to water getting in, we show you and explain what they likely mean, but confirming a leak takes further investigation, so we stop short of a guaranteed diagnosis.
If your building inspector told you to "get a roofer to look at the roof", this is that.
Who books a pre-purchase check.
You're a first home buyer and want the roof checked before you commit.
Your building report flagged the roof or recommended a roofer take a closer look.
The home is older, has a complex roofline, or you can't see the roof from the ground.
You want to understand likely future costs before you negotiate or go unconditional.
Common pre-purchase questions.
Is this the same as a building inspection?
Can you tell me if the roof is leaking?
How quickly can you turn it around?
What do I receive at the end?
If the roof needs work, can you sort out pricing?
How much does it cost?
Related roof services.
Thinking about a property? Let's look at the roof first.
Send the address and your key dates, conditional or auction. We'll reply with the next step and a price.
Get a quoteGet a quote for your roof.
Leave your details and tell us your deadline - conditional date, auction, or settlement - and we'll come back with a fixed price, no obligation. Prefer to talk? Call 022 058 7070.