The practical rule of thumb is simple: once a year, in late autumn. That is when the leaf fall is behind you and the winter ahead of you, and it is the round that prevents the most.
There are situations where once is not enough, though, and there are moments when you do not wait for the schedule.
When once a year is enough
With a tiled roof younger than about twenty years, in an open setting without overhanging trees, without a dormer or many penetrations, and without previous leaks. Then the autumn round is enough and you need not worry about it for the rest of the year.
When twice a year is wise
Lots of trees nearby. Gutters and valley gutters fill up twice a year. In spring, blossom and seeds are added to that. See
cleaning gutters.
A flat roof with details. Penetrations, rooflights, upstands and outlets should be looked at twice a year, because that is where almost every leak is. See
why a flat roof leaks.
A roof older than thirty years. By then the battens, membrane and leadwork are at the end of their life and there is more that can go. See
the lifespan of roof tiles.
Previous leaks. A roof that has leaked once deserves more attention, in other places too. If the lead has failed in one spot, the rest is just as old.
“Half an hour once a year. That is the whole investment, and it is what prevents most big jobs.”
Fouad, owner of Astrodak Service
Have it checked before it becomes a job
Most of the damage I repair was still a small fix a year earlier. Have your roof checked with no obligation and you will know exactly where you stand.
The moments when you do not wait
After prolonged rain. A week of persistent rain exposes weak spots that do nothing in a short shower.
With a damp patch, even a small one. A stain that appears and dries up again is a leak that is still there. See
a damp patch on the ceiling.
Before you buy or sell a house. When buying, you want to know what you are buying; when selling, you do not want a buyer to be the first to discover it.
Before you have solar panels installed. Panels on a roof that needs replacing within ten years means taking them down and refitting them later.
What an inspection should give you
Not a list of everything that could ever be done, but a split into three categories: what is needed now, what you are best off including because someone is on the roof anyway, and what can safely wait. With that three-way split you can decide for yourself.
Why a roof without problems needs attention
The moments when people call are visible ones: a damp patch, a storm, a tile on the drive. That means a roof that never complains goes unseen for years, and that is exactly the roof where something is slowly happening.
The timber under a leaking valley gutter gives no signal until it is soft. A gutter that holds water in one spot takes ten years to show it. So a check on a roof where nothing seems wrong is not a luxury but the only moment you find those things in time.
Frequently asked questions about roof inspection
