Professional roof inspections and condition reports across Inverness and Highland. Pre-purchase surveys, maintenance assessments, pre-winter health checks. Free on all roofing projects — standalone surveys from £95.
A professional roof survey is the starting point for any informed roofing decision — whether you are buying a property, planning maintenance, dealing with an insurance claim, or simply want to know the condition of your roof before the Highland winter. We survey the full roof — not just the reported problem area — because one issue often reveals others that were not previously visible.
We begin with a ground-level inspection using binoculars — a large proportion of roof condition issues are identifiable from the street, and this assessment shapes what we look for on the roof. We then access the roof and carry out close inspection of: tile or slate condition (including individual slate delamination assessment on natural slate properties), ridge and hip mortar condition, lead flashing seating at all junctions, valley condition and debris accumulation, chimney stack condition on all four faces, and any flat roof sections. Where loft access is available, we inspect from the inside. We photograph every item of significance.
You receive a written report within 24 hours of the survey. The report lists each element assessed with a condition grade — immediate action required, action within 12 months, monitor — accompanied by a recommended action and estimated cost. The report is structured so you can use it for maintenance planning, insurance purposes, or purchase price negotiations on a property you are buying.
We carry out a significant volume of pre-purchase roof surveys on Inverness properties. A homebuyer's structural survey provides a general overview of the property condition — it does not provide the detailed roof assessment that an experienced roofer carries out with direct roof access. Discovering a significant roofing problem after exchange of contracts — nail sickness requiring a full re-roof, failed lead valleys, advanced slate delamination — can be expensive and stressful. A pre-purchase roof survey costs £150–£250 and can save multiples of that in unexpected costs after moving in.
| Pre-project survey (with any roofing project) | Free |
| Annual health check (existing customers) | Free |
| Standalone condition survey | £95 |
| Pre-purchase survey (standard 3-bed) | £150 |
| Pre-purchase survey (large detached / complex) | £200–£250 |
| Insurance damage assessment report | £95–£150 |
Pre-purchase survey or annual health check? Call for an appointment.
Call 01463 262835A survey report that simply lists defects without context is less useful than one that explains each item clearly. A good Inverness roof survey report grades each element by urgency, specifies the recommended action with enough detail to understand what it involves, and includes an estimated cost against each item. You should be able to read the report without the surveyor present and understand what the roof's condition is, what needs to happen and in what sequence, and what the total financial commitment is.
Our reports use three urgency grades: immediate action required (the item is currently failing or posing an active risk and should be addressed before the next weather event); action within 12 months (the item is deteriorating and will become an immediate issue if not addressed within the year — not urgent today, but should not be deferred beyond the next maintenance window); and monitor (the item is showing early signs of deterioration but has useful remaining life — it should be re-assessed at the next survey). This structure allows you to plan expenditure across time rather than treating everything as an immediate cost.
A pre-winter survey focuses on identifying what is likely to fail in the coming Highland frost season — marginal mortar, lifting flashings, blocked valleys. The report prioritises items that cannot survive another winter without attention. A post-purchase survey on a newly acquired property covers a broader baseline — every element of the roof system graded and costed to give the new owner a complete picture of the asset condition. These require different approaches and different time horizons in the report. We confirm the purpose of each survey when booking and structure the report accordingly.
"Pre-purchase survey on a Crown area Victorian. Identified significant lead flashing failure on three dormers — not visible from ground level. Used the report to negotiate £4,000 off the purchase price. Best £150 I've spent."
"September health check identified ridge mortar cracking before the frost season. Fixed in October. First winter without a ceiling stain. The pre-season timing makes all the difference."
"Insurance assessment for storm damage. Clear written report, photographed evidence. Insurer accepted it without challenge. Quick turnaround — report same day as visit."
A professional roof survey covers: tile or slate condition assessment, ridge and hip mortar condition, lead flashing and valley inspection, chimney condition, flat roof sections if present, guttering and fascia condition, and any visible defects from the loft side where access is available. You receive a written report with each element graded by urgency.
Yes — pre-purchase surveys are one of our most frequent requests. Buying a property with an undisclosed roofing problem can be expensive. Our survey covers the full roof and produces a written condition report suitable for use in purchase negotiations. Cost: £150–£250 depending on property size. Call 01463 262835 to arrange.
A standard 3-bed semi: 30–45 minutes. Larger detached properties with complex roof geometry: 45–75 minutes. Properties with multiple flat roof sections, large chimneys or listed building requirements take longer. We confirm the time estimate when booking.
Free as part of any roofing project over £300. Free health check surveys are also available to returning customers. Standalone surveys on new enquiries for pre-purchase or condition assessment: £95–£250 depending on scope. Call 01463 262835 to discuss what you need.
The report covers each roof element (tiles/slate, ridge, hips, valleys, flashings, chimney, gutters, flat sections if present) with a condition grade — immediate action required, action within 12 months, monitor — along with a recommended action and estimated cost for each flagged item. It is suitable for insurance purposes, purchase negotiations or maintenance planning.
We carry out a preliminary ground-level assessment using binoculars on every survey — a significant proportion of roof condition issues are identifiable from the street. For a complete assessment, close inspection from the roof is necessary for tiles, ridge mortar, lead flashings and chimney condition. We always access the roof where it is safe to do so.
Post-war concrete tile properties: every 10 years until the roof is 40 years old, then every 5–7 years. Victorian and Edwardian natural slate properties: every 7–10 years regardless of age. Any property over 50 years old: every 5 years. Pre-season health checks each September are recommended for all properties with known vulnerability.
Free on all projects. Standalone surveys from £95. We cover all of Inverness and Highland.
01463 262835