Roof Surveys & InspectionsAcross Leeds, Huddersfield & Bradford

Full survey versus a small survey

A full survey is the more thorough option, covering the roof covering in detail, all flashings and valleys, chimney stacks, guttering, and a proper check for damp and structural issues from the loft and, where access allows, around the property. It suits situations like a full house purchase, a landlord's periodic condition check, or general peace of mind on an older property.

A small survey is a more limited inspection, suited to a narrower concern, such as checking a specific area of the roof or getting a general condition steer without the full level of detail. Which one is right depends entirely on your situation, and that is best worked out with a phone call rather than guessing, since paying for more than you need is as unhelpful as paying for less than you need.

Why this is a paid service, separate from a quote

It's worth repeating plainly because it causes genuine confusion: a free site visit is us coming to price a specific job you've already identified, such as a repair, a new roof, or repointing. A survey is a distinct, paid professional inspection carried out to establish overall condition, often when no specific work has been decided on yet.

The two exist for different reasons and are priced differently as a result. We won't try to sell you a survey when a free quote visit is really what you need, and equally we won't treat a genuine survey request as a quick free look, because it deserves proper, dedicated time on the roof and in the loft.

What gets checked on a full inspection

A full inspection covers the roof covering itself for slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates, all flashings around chimneys, walls and abutments, valleys for wear and correct fall, and the general condition of ridge and hip lines. It also covers guttering and downpipes, since these are directly linked to damp issues on the walls below.

From inside, the loft is checked for timber condition, insulation, ventilation, and any signs of past or ongoing water ingress, since problems often show up here well before they are visible from a room below.

• Roof covering: tiles, slates, or stone flags checked for slip, cracking and wear.
• Flashings and valleys checked at chimneys, walls and abutments for the most common failure points.
• Loft timbers checked for damp staining, rot, and structural condition.
• Guttering and downpipes checked as a common cause of related wall damp.

Property purchases and older stone roofs

Older stone-roofed property across the Pennine areas of Huddersfield, Halifax and parts of Bradford carries particular risks that are easy to miss without a proper inspection. Stone flags can look sound while being held largely by their neighbours rather than by sound fixings, and the timber underneath can be carrying decades of slow damp without any obvious sign from inside a dry room.

For anyone buying this kind of property, a survey focused on these specific risks, rather than a general glance, gives a genuinely useful picture before committing to a purchase price.

What happens after the survey

Once the inspection is complete, findings are reported plainly, including areas that are sound as well as anything of concern. There is no obligation to have any follow-on work carried out by us. If issues are found and you'd like us to price putting them right, that is treated as a separate job with its own free assessment for pricing purposes, distinct from the survey itself.

This separation matters, because it keeps the survey honest. It exists to tell you the condition of the roof, not to generate work, and we keep it that way.