What a roof survey actually checks
A proper roof survey looks beyond the visible tiles — timber condition in the loft, flashing around chimneys and valleys, ventilation, and signs of past repairs. Worth requesting one before buying a property with an older roof, since problems aren't always visible from ground level or even from inside the loft.
Pest and vermin entry points in roofs
Gaps around fascias, damaged soffit vents, or missing tiles are common entry points for birds, squirrels and other vermin into a loft space — a roofer doing repair work will often flag these even if they weren't the original reason for the call-out.
Roofing guarantees, what to check
A workmanship guarantee typically runs 10 years upwards for a full re-roof, separate from any manufacturer's guarantee on the tiles or felt itself. Ask whether the guarantee is insurance-backed (protects you if the roofer goes out of business) — this varies between individual roofers and isn't automatic.
Gutter clearing vs gutter replacement
Blocked gutters from leaves and debris are usually a clearing job, not a replacement one — worth getting cleared before assuming new guttering is needed. Persistent overflow even when clear, or visible sagging/cracking, points toward the guttering itself needing replacement rather than just clearing.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Materials (tiles, felt, leadwork, scaffolding hire) are often a smaller share of a re-roof quote than labour, particularly given the time and access involved. A cheap quote is worth checking for the same tile/material spec as competing quotes, not just a lower labour day rate.
Roof orientation and solar suitability
A south-facing roof slope generally gets the most useful sun for solar panels, though east/west-facing roofs can still work reasonably well. A roofer or solar installer assessing suitability will look at pitch, orientation, shading from nearby trees or buildings, and roof structural capacity together.
Signs your roof needs attention
Slipped, cracked or missing tiles, sagging in the roofline, daylight visible through the roof from the loft, and damp patches on ceilings are all signs worth having checked. A few slipped tiles is usually a repair; sagging or widespread wear across the whole roof usually points toward a full re-roof being better value than repeated repairs.
Red flags in a cheap roofing quote
A quote well below others, unsolicited doorstep cold-calling (especially "I noticed a problem while working nearby"), demands for cash up front before any work starts, and no fixed business address are all worth treating with caution — roofing is a trade with a higher-than-average scam rate.