A roof is easy to forget until it leaks - and by then the cheap fix has become an expensive one. Ten minutes with a pair of binoculars a couple of times a year catches the vast majority of problems while they're still small. Here's what to look for, all from the safety of the ground.
You don't need to go up. Almost everything here can be checked from the ground or an upstairs window - leave the climbing to a roofer with the right kit.
From the Ground - Twice a Year
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates
- Ridge tiles sitting unevenly along the top
- Lead flashing around chimneys and valleys that's lifted or split
- Sagging or pulling-away guttering
- Plant growth or heavy moss in the gutters and valleys
Gutters and Drainage
- Clear leaves and silt so water can actually drain - see our gutter cleaning guide
- Check downpipes flow freely after rain
- Look for damp streaks on the wall below a gutter (a sign it's overflowing)
- Make sure water discharges away from the wall and foundations
Check Inside the Loft
- Daylight showing through the roof where it shouldn't
- Damp patches, water stains or a musty smell on the timbers
- Wet or compressed insulation
- Any sign of pests getting in through gaps
After Every Storm
Walk round the house and look up for displaced tiles and debris.
Broken tile fragments on the ground are a clear sign something's shifted up top.
A fresh stain after a storm means water is getting in - act quickly.
What a Professional Inspection Adds
- A close-up view
- A roofer sees cracked tiles, nail-sickness and worn flashing you can't spot from below.
- Timing
- Booking a check before winter is the cheapest insurance there is against a midwinter leak.
- A plan
- You get told what needs doing now versus what to keep an eye on.
When to Call Sooner
- Water actively coming into the house
- A visibly displaced chimney, aerial or large branch
- Several tiles gone with more bad weather forecast
- Daylight through the roof from the loft
Why Twice a Year?
The two checks line up with the two things that punish a roof: autumn leaf-fall and winter weather. A late-autumn look (and gutter clear) gets debris off before the wet season, so water can actually drain instead of backing up under the tiles. A spring check then catches anything the winter loosened - slipped tiles, lifted flashing, cracked pointing - while it's still a small, cheap fix. Miss those windows and small problems get a full season to turn into leaks.
What Quietly Shortens a Roof's Life
Most roofs don't fail all at once; they're worn down by small, ignored things. Blocked gutters send water back under the tiles. Overhanging branches scrape the surface and drop debris. Heavy moss holds damp against the tiles and clogs the drainage. Trapped moisture in a poorly ventilated loft rots the timbers from beneath. None of these is dramatic on its own, but together they take years off a roof - and every one of them is easy to spot and sort during a routine check.
A Simple Seasonal Routine
You don't need to be technical to keep on top of a roof - just consistent. Put two reminders in your calendar, one for late autumn and one for spring, and each time spend ten minutes scanning the roof from the ground with binoculars, glancing in the loft, and checking the gutters flow after rain. Book a professional check before winter every few years, especially on an older roof. That tiny habit catches the slipped tile and the lifted flashing while they're a quick fix, and it's the single best way to avoid the 2am call to an emergency roofer.
Maintenance is far cheaper than repair - but when something does go, our roof repair cost guide shows what to expect, and the storm damage checklist covers the aftermath of bad weather. Water coming in right now? Get an emergency roofer on the way.