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What changes the cost of a roof inspection?
The price of a roof inspection depends on how the roofer gets a proper view of the roof, whether the loft is checked too, and whether you want photos and a written report. This guide does not print a fee, so ask what each roofer includes before they visit.
Last reviewed:What is a roof inspection?
A roof inspection is a visit from a roofer to look at the condition of your roof and tell you what, if anything, needs doing. It can be a quick check after a storm, a closer look at a stubborn leak, or a fuller report before you buy a house or fit solar panels.
The price depends on what you ask for. Some roofers will look at a roof as part of quoting for a repair. Others charge for an inspection visit, especially when they need access equipment or you want a written report. This guide explains what changes the price and what to ask for. It does not print a fee.
Our roofers page covers the trade, and the roof repair cost guide explains what changes a repair quote once the problem is found.
QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a roof inspection job.
When is a roof inspection worth booking?
The Federation of Master Builders lists signs that are reasons to arrange an inspection, including water stains, slipped tiles and damp loft timbers [S1]. It also suggests booking a professional roof survey if a leak keeps coming back, if you are buying an older home, or if you plan to fit solar panels on an ageing roof [S1].
Other good reasons include:
- after a storm, when you can see debris on the ground or a tile out of line
- before selling, so you can deal with defects rather than have a buyer find them
- when a roof has not been looked at for many years and you want a baseline
- before an extension or loft conversion that joins the existing roof
A ceiling stain is not always below the problem. FMB says water can travel before it becomes visible indoors, so a stain may be some distance from the defect [S1]. It also says damp in the loft can come from condensation [S1]. A good inspection works out which.
What can you check yourself first?
FMB advises inspecting your roof from ground level and inside the loft, but not climbing onto it yourself [S1]. From the ground, a camera with a zoom or a pair of binoculars shows a lot: slipped or missing tiles, a gap at the ridge, moss build-up, a sagging line, or flashing that has lifted.
In the loft, FMB says to stay on a fixed walkway, because ceiling boards and insulation will not support your weight [S1]. Look for daylight, damp patches on the timbers or underside of the felt, and wet insulation. Look again after heavy rain.
Write down what you see and when you first spotted it, and take photos. Sending these with your job helps a roofer decide what kind of visit is needed and what equipment to bring.
This guide does not give any method for going onto a roof.
What changes the price of an inspection?
| What you ask for | What it usually involves | Why it changes the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level look | Roofer views the roof from the garden and street | Short visit, little equipment |
| Loft inspection | Roofer checks timbers, felt and insulation from inside | Adds time, needs safe loft access |
| Roof-level inspection | Roofer gets close access to tiles, ridge, valleys and flashing | Ladders, a tower or scaffolding, and more time |
| Camera or drone images | Close photos without walking on the roof | Equipment, and time to check and share images |
| Photo set | Pictures of each problem shared with you | Time to take, label and send |
| Written report | Findings, urgency and recommended work in writing | Office time, and it becomes a document you can rely on |
| Repair quote | A priced list of work arising from the inspection | Often part of the same visit, but ask |
| VAT | Registration is required above £90,000 of taxable turnover in the last 12 months [S4] | Ask whether any fee includes VAT |
Size and shape of the roof. A small, simple roof is quicker to look over than one with valleys, dormers, chimneys and several levels.
Height and access. A bungalow can often be seen well from the ground or low access. A three-storey house, or a roof over a conservatory, takes more planning.
Flat or pitched. On a flat roof, the inspector looks for splits, blisters, lifting edges and standing water. On a pitched roof, the focus is tiles, ridge, hips, valleys and flashing.
Urgency. An out-of-hours visit after storm damage usually costs more than a booked visit.
Free check or paid inspection?
Many roofers will look at a roof without charge when they are quoting for a repair. That is useful, but it is not the same as an independent inspection. The person looking also hopes to do the work.
A paid inspection makes sense when:
- you want a written record of the roof's condition
- you want to compare the findings with other roofers' quotes
- you are buying a house and need to know what you are taking on
- you need evidence of damage, for example for an insurance claim
Ask for the findings in writing either way. Citizens Advice says some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first [S2].
Why is roof-level access a job for the roofer?
Getting close to a roof means working at height. HSE's guidance for workplaces says to avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so, and otherwise to prevent falls using the right type of equipment [S3]. HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation. HSE explains more in its introduction to working at height.
A roofer should tell you how they will reach the roof, whether they will walk on it or view it from access equipment, and how they will protect the tiles. Older roofs can be fragile, and walking on them can cause damage of its own. Cameras on poles and drones can help here, because they give close images without anyone standing on the tiles.
What should a roof inspection report include?
A useful report answers four questions: what is wrong, how urgent is it, what caused it, and what should be done. Ask for:
- a list of defects, each with a photo and where it is on the roof
- whether each defect is urgent, should be done soon, or can wait
- the likely cause, especially for leaks and damp
- what the roofer could not see, such as hidden valleys or a part of the loft with no safe access
- recommended work, with a separate priced quote if you want one
FMB says there is no reliable percentage of damaged roof covering that decides whether replacement is necessary [S1]. A good report explains what has failed and what is still sound, rather than jumping straight to a new roof.
What if the damage came from a storm?
After a storm, a roofer may need to make the roof weathertight quickly, before a full repair is agreed. FMB says a roofer can make the area temporarily weatherproof before a permanent repair is agreed [S1].
If you plan to claim on your home insurance, contact your insurer before any permanent repair, and ask what evidence it wants. Ask the roofer to photograph the damage before anything is moved, and to write down what they did as a temporary measure and what still needs doing. Keep the photos, the report and any receipts together.
Do not go onto the roof or into a part of the loft that looks unsafe to take your own photos.
What happens after the inspection?
If the roof needs work, the report sets out the job. Send the same list of defects to each roofer you ask to quote, so the quotes cover the same work.
Planning Portal says repairs to an existing roof will not normally need a building control application if less than 25 per cent of the building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof is affected [S5]. Bigger jobs, or a change to a much heavier covering, can need approval [S5].
Planning Portal also says work on a loft or a roof may affect bats, and a survey or licence may be needed [S6]. If the inspector sees signs of bats, ask them to say so in the report.
Citizens Advice suggests trying to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders before you decide on one [S2]. Our roof leak repair guide explains what changes the price of fixing a leak, and our house survey cost guide covers surveys when you are buying.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Brown stain on the bedroom ceiling after heavy rain. Please inspect the roof and loft and tell me the cause before quoting."
- "Buying a 1930s semi. Please give a written roof report with photos, including the chimney and the bay roof."
- "Planning to fit solar panels. Please inspect the roof and say whether any repairs are needed first."
Posting a roof inspection job
Say what has prompted the inspection, add your own photos from the ground and the loft, and say whether you want a written report. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about roof inspections
How much does a roof inspection cost?
This guide does not print a fee. A quick look from the ground while a roofer is nearby is a different service from a full inspection with roof-level access, loft checks, photos and a written report. Ask each roofer what the visit includes and whether there is a charge for it.
Is a free roof check worth having?
It can be, as long as you know what it is. A free check is usually a short visit leading to a quote for repairs. If you want an independent view with no repair work attached, say so and ask for a written report you can show to other roofers.
Can I check my own roof?
You can look from the ground and from inside the loft. FMB advises inspecting from ground level and inside the loft, but not climbing onto the roof. Take photos with a zoom lens or binoculars, and note when any stains appear.
Do I need a roof inspection when buying a house?
A home survey looks at the roof, but it may only describe what can be seen from the ground and the loft. FMB suggests booking a professional roof survey if you are buying an older home. A roofer can look more closely before you commit.
Should I get a roof inspection before fitting solar panels?
It is sensible. FMB suggests a professional roof survey if you are planning to fit solar panels on an ageing roof. Panels are hard to work around once fitted, so any repairs are simpler first.
Does QuoteZila check roofers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Related trades
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Related pages
- Roof Leak Repair in Cheshire: What to Ask. A roof leak in Cheshire starts as a symptom you can describe from the ground. Compare quotes that name the same suspected entry and the same access.
- Roof Repair Costs in Cheshire: What Changes the Price. What changes the price of a roof repair or flat roof replacement in Cheshire. This guide prints no figure. Compare written quotes.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: The ultimate guide to roofing, Federation of Master Builders. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/ultimate-guides-to-home-renovation/the-ultimate-guide-to-roofing.html
- S2: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S3: Introduction to working at height safely, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/introduction.htm
- S4: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S5: Building Regulations: Work to an existing roof, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/roof/building-regulations-work-to-an-existing-roof
- S6: Roof: Protected species, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/roof/protected-species