The short answer
A roof inspection takes as long as the roof needs, and the time on site depends on its size, shape, access and the method used. A plain pitched roof on a modest house is a short visit. A flat roof with several outlets, a mansard with concealed gutters or a block of flats takes noticeably longer, and the written report follows after the visit.
What decides how long it takes
Roofs vary so much that anyone who quotes a fixed duration without seeing yours is guessing. Five things move the clock.
- Size and number of roof areas. A semi-detached house with one main roof and a small rear slope is quicker than a terrace with a rear extension, a bay roof, a dormer and a chimney stack.
- Shape and pitch. Steep slopes, valleys, hips and tall chimneys all demand more careful work than a plain gable.
- Access. A roof reached by a short ladder from the garden is easy. One needing a long ladder over a narrow passage, a tower or scaffolding adds setup time.
- Method. A drone gives a fast overview, a hands-on walk over the slopes gives more detail, and a loft inspection adds a separate stage.
- Purpose. A quick check after a storm has a narrow scope. A full condition report for a sale or a dispute records far more.
Conditions count too. Wet, windy or icy weather can postpone the work, and it may be safer to rebook than to rush. Read how surveying a roof in winter or rain works if the forecast looks poor.
A typical visit from arrival to goodbye
The visit has a sequence, and the order tells you where the time goes.
It begins with a conversation. We ask what prompted the inspection: a stain, a storm, a sale, an insurance query. Then we walk round the outside, looking at the roof from the ground to form an overall picture before anyone goes up. That tells us where to concentrate.
Next comes the close inspection. This means every slate or tile, the ridge and hips, the valleys, the lead round chimneys and walls, and the gutters and eaves. We take a picture of each fault where it sits, so the report can show exactly where it is. For a flat roof the work includes the membrane, the upturned edges, the outlets and any pools of standing water.
The loft is the final stage. We check rafters, battens, whatever lies directly beneath the covering and the insulation for damp, rot, daylight and signs of past leaks. Before leaving, we describe what we have found, so you hear it in person before the report arrives.
Longer visits: flat roofs, period houses and blocks
Some roofs ask for more. A flat roof can look simple yet hide problems in the drainage, the edges and the deck, and finding the cause of a leak means tracing water along a route that may start metres from the stain. Mansards combine a near-vertical lower slope, dormer cheeks and a shallow top, with valleys tucked between. Georgian terraces in Bath often add a parapet gutter, which is a lead-lined channel behind the front wall, alongside box gutters and a stack for each fireplace.
Historic buildings add care as well as time. Old stone tiles and thin lead need gentle handling, and the inspector often records more detail because the roof will be repaired in a matching way. Our notes on a historic roof survey show what that involves.
Commercial roofs and blocks add scale. A block of flats may have several roof areas, rooflights, plant, walkways and shared gutters, and the survey may be arranged in stages with the managing agent. A drone can cover a large area efficiently, and our page on drone roof survey rules explains what to agree first.
From the visit to the report
The time on the roof is only part of the job. A proper report takes further time to prepare, because photographs have to be sorted, faults matched to locations and the findings ranked. How long this takes varies with the roof and with the sort of report you asked for. A short note after a storm can be quick. A condition report for a sale, an insurer or a landlord is a longer document.
Ask when you book what the report will contain and when to expect it, in writing. We do not promise response times, but we will tell you what is realistic for your roof. A clear report should list each fault, show where it is, say what probably caused it and suggest what to do, in priority order.
Quoting for the repair is a further step. After the survey we price any work needed, with the fixed price set out in writing. You are not obliged to accept it, and the photographs are yours either way.
Cost and planning your day
Cost generally follows time and method. Typical UK ranges reported by MyBuilder in 2026 are £150 to £500 for an inspection, with a standard visit at £150 to £250, a drone survey at £200 to £400 and thermal imaging at £300 to £500. A longer, more detailed visit sits higher in the range. Our own survey comes with no fee and includes photographs of your roof.
To plan the day, clear the loft hatch, make sure the ladder position at the front or rear is free of parked cars, and tell us about any known leaks and where they appear. If the roof is shared, check who else needs to agree. You do not need to be home for the whole inspection, but it helps to be there at the start and the end.
Each type of visit has its own page under roof inspections and surveys.
