Overview
This is the property-maintenance side of the business, and the most cost-effective protection a roof can have. Most roof disasters begin as something small and visible that nobody looked at — a blocked gutter, a slipped tile, a lifted flashing. A check before the wet season catches those while they're still a quick fix.
When you need it
- The wet season is approaching and the roof hasn't been looked at
- You've just bought a home and want to know the roof's real condition
- You're a landlord or property manager keeping a property maintained
- You'd rather catch small jobs early than pay for a big one later
How Sam approaches it
- 01 Gutters and valleys are cleared so water can get away freely
- 02 The roof is walked and checked for slipped tiles, lifted sheets, tired flashings and early rust
- 03 Minor faults are fixed on the spot where possible
- 04 You get a plain-English rundown of what's fine, what to watch, and what needs attention — and what doesn't
What it resolves
- Small faults before they turn into leaks
- Blocked gutters backing water under the roof
- Uncertainty about a roof you can't see for yourself
What a roof inspection checks
A roof inspection is Sam getting up on the roof, where it is safe to, and checking the parts that keep the water out. The aim is to find small faults while they are still a quick fix.
- Tile roofs: ridge and hip capping (cracked pointing, loose caps), cracked or slipped tiles, valleys full of leaves, and moss or porous tiles
- Metal roofs: screws that have backed out, rust at the laps and sheet ends, and sheets lifted by wind
- Every roof: flashings at walls, chimneys, skylights and vents, gutters and downpipes, and anything that goes through the roof, such as solar brackets and antenna mounts
- The roof space, where it can be reached: water stains on timbers, damp insulation and daylight along the ridge
Good times to book a roof inspection in Adelaide: before winter, after a big storm, when you are buying a home, and after solar, antenna or air conditioning installers have been walking the roof. The full checklist is in our guide: roof inspections, what gets checked and when.
Real jobs, real photos
These are A1 jobs, not stock images. Sam runs A1 Roofing from Redwood Park and quotes and does the work himself, so the person who looks at your roof is the person who fixes it. Adelaide's northern and north-eastern suburbs are the heart of the service area.
Common questions
How often should a roof be checked?
Every year or two suits most homes, plus after any big storm. Older roofs, and homes with trees hanging over the roof, are worth checking every year before winter.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Under heavy tree cover, gutters can block within a season. A clean before the wet season is the minimum, and homes right under gum trees often need it more than once a year. Sam can clear the gutters and valleys and check the roof in the same visit.
Is a building inspection the same as a roof inspection?
No. A general pre-purchase building inspection covers the whole house, so the roof may only be looked at from accessible areas. A roofer's inspection focuses on the roof itself and what it would take to fix any faults.
Can a roof be inspected without walking on it?
Partly. A lot can be seen from a ladder at the gutter line, from inside the roof space and from the ground. Some faults, like cracked pointing or loose screws, are only found up close.
What happens if the check finds a problem?
Small faults such as a slipped tile or a loose screw can often be fixed on the spot. Bigger work is explained and quoted, so you can decide what to do and when.
Helpful guides
Local to the north-east
Based in Redwood Park: Maintenance in Tea Tree Gully · Maintenance in Modbury · Maintenance in Golden Grove · Maintenance in Salisbury · all areas
You may also need
Have a roof you'd like us to look at?
Call Sam for a straight answer, or send a photo of the problem and receive an honest assessment without waiting for a site visit.