Roof inspection checklist
Download the roof checklist (text) or print this page for your property record. Mark each item as checked, needs attention or not visible, with a date and photograph number.
- Roof covering: visible damage, displaced tiles, rust patches or changed colour.
- Flashings and penetrations: visible gaps or lifting around walls, pipes and roof edges.
- Gutters and downpipes: debris, overflow marks, sagging and discharge problems.
- Inside: new ceiling stains, damp corners or changes after rain.
- History: repairs, coating dates and recurring defects.
Keep your feet on the ground for these checks. Leave roof walking, opening joints and elevated cleaning to a team with a suitable access plan.
Arrange a professional check for active leaks, loose roofing, damaged flashings or areas you cannot see safely. Keep clear of fallen materials and overhead power lines. A ladder does not make a roof edge, brittle sheet or skylight safe to approach.
Roof maintenance schedule
Set a recurring reminder using your roof manufacturer's care instructions and the property's exposure. Add a check after severe weather or building work, and bring drainage checks forward when leaves or debris accumulate.
Record the date, observation, action, person responsible and follow-up date. An inaccessible area stays on the list for inspection; an empty box does not mean it is sound.
Use autumn to review leaf build-up and unresolved leaks before Wellington's wetter winter months. In spring, review changes after winter storms and plan any cleaning or coating work. Add checks after severe weather between those seasonal reviews. Your roof supplier's maintenance requirements still set the material-specific tasks and intervals.
Match care to the covering
For metal roofs, note coating damage, corrosion and debris at junctions. For tiled roofs, note displaced or broken units from a safe viewpoint. For membrane roofs, drainage, seams and penetrations need particular attention; read about membrane roof repairs.
A roof condition report can organise findings before you choose cleaning, local repairs or larger work.
On metal, use the coating supplier's washing instructions and arrange removal of trapped debris; abrasive tools can damage protective finishes. Tiles need individual damage checked before cleaning, rather than a coating over a broken unit. On membranes, avoid sharp tools and check the system's cleaning requirements before treating growth.
Follow leaks to their cause
If your roof leaks in heavy rain, record where and when water appears. Water can travel before it reaches the ceiling, so include nearby roof-to-wall details and earlier repairs in the enquiry.
Our guides to roof flashing repair and a metal roof leaking at an overlap explain the different details an investigation may need to consider.
Choose the next action
Separate routine cleaning from repairs. Ask about roof cleaning in Wellington for debris or growth, and use the roof repair vs replacement guide when defects recur or the covering is deteriorating across a wider area.
Make the quote describe the affected areas, access, preparation and how completion will be checked. Keep photographs and the agreed scope beside your maintenance record.
Start here
- Begin with a roof condition report when the roof's history or condition is unclear.
- Read what to do during a heavy-rain leak if water is entering now.
- Compare repair and replacement before committing to larger work.
Roof planning guides
- Roof Flashing Repair in WellingtonDiscuss roof flashing repair with Altitude in Wellington. Learn when sealing, repair or replacement makes sense and what to include in your enquiry.
- Roof Leaking in Heavy Rain? What to DoRoof leaking in heavy rain? Protect the affected area, record the leak and understand likely causes. Contact Altitude for Wellington leak investigation.
- Roof condition reports in WellingtonUnderstand the condition of your roof before choosing maintenance or larger work. Altitude provides roof assessments and commercial condition reporting with photo evidence for maintenance planning.
- Membrane Roof Repairs WellingtonMembrane roof repairs in Wellington for splits, failed seams and worn details. Talk to Altitude about butynol, torch-on repairs and assessment.
- Metal Roof Leaking at an Overlap: What to CheckA metal roof leaking at an overlap needs careful diagnosis. Record the rain pattern, leak location and repair history before arranging investigation.
- Repair or Replace Your Roof? How to DecideCompare roof repair, restoration and replacement using condition, defects and scope. Prepare the right questions for a roof assessment with Altitude.