Does a house survey fully inspect the roof?
A property survey normally includes visual assessment of the roof where it is safe and accessible, but the level of detail and viewing position vary. If the roof is a specific concern, a specialist roof inspection or drone inspection may provide closer visual evidence of inaccessible areas.
What a survey typically covers
Most residential surveys assess the roof visually from ground level and, where safely accessible, from the loft. They are not usually carried out at roof level, and surveyors say so in their reports.
That is why roof comments in surveys are often qualified and end with a recommendation to obtain a specialist opinion.
Filling the gap
A roofing inspection focuses on the covering, fixings, flashings and details, and produces photographs of what was actually seen.
Used alongside the survey rather than instead of it, it turns a general caution into specific, actionable information.