A Brighton roof inspection checklist covers ground-level checks for missing or slipped tiles, displaced ridge tiles, chimney and lead condition, and sagging gutters, plus a loft check for daylight, damp and debris. Inspect twice yearly and after every major storm, given Brighton's coastal exposure.
Ground-Level Visual Check — 10 Minutes
Walk all four sides of the property. Look at each roof slope carefully from different angles. You're looking for:
Tiles and Slates
- Missing tiles — gaps in the roof plane visible from the ground
- Slipped tiles — tiles that have slid down and are out of line with the course above
- Broken tiles — visible cracks or pieces missing from individual tiles
- Uneven roof surface — a wavy or irregular roof plane can indicate batten or rafter issues
- Heavy moss or black biological growth concentrated in one area — can indicate a slow leak keeping that area damp
Ridge and Hip
- Displaced ridge tiles — any ridge tile that appears rotated, lifted or out of line
- Visible gaps in the mortar fillet along the ridge
- Hip tiles that appear loose or have visible mortar gaps at the joints
Chimneys
- Visible mortar loss between bricks — look for the shadow of recessed joints
- White efflorescence (salt deposits) on the chimney face
- Separation of lead flashing from the brickwork
- Chimney lean — sight along the stack from both axes
- Cracked or missing chimney pots
Gutters and Fascias
- Guttering pulling away from the fascia
- Visible sag in gutter sections
- Green staining or tide marks below gutter joints — indicates overflow
- Fascia boards that appear discoloured, cracked or pulling away from the wall
Key fact: Standard RICS HomeBuyer surveys do not include roof-level access, meaning most Brighton homeowners have never had their roof physically inspected — a gap that hides nail sickness and batten decay invisible from ground level.
Loft Inspection — 5 Minutes
After any significant storm, open the loft hatch and check with a torch:
- Daylight — any point of light visible through the roof structure indicates a hole or gap that needs attention
- Fresh damp patches — on rafters, purlins or the underside of the felt/ membrane. Old dark staining may be historic; fresh dark patches or active moisture is current
- Active drips or runs — obvious and urgent
- Debris — fresh tile fragments, mortar, or displaced insulation can indicate structural movement
- Damp smell — not diagnostic alone but worth noting and investigating
Seasonal Checklist
Autumn (October-November)
- Clear gutters after leaf fall — before the heavy winter rain
- Clear valleys of accumulated leaf debris
- Check downpipes are flowing freely
- Note any moss growth that has appeared over summer for treatment
Spring (March-April)
- Clear gutters of winter debris — gravel, tile fragments, moss shed from roof
- Ground-level visual check after winter storms
- Loft check for any damp that has appeared over winter
- Arrange professional survey if any concerns identified
After Any Major Storm
- Ground-level visual check — all four elevations
- Loft inspection with torch
- Check valleys are clear — storm debris blocks them rapidly
- Call for professional assessment if any tiles are displaced or damp is found
Brighton-Specific Notes
Brighton's coastal position means some checks are more important here than inland:
- Lead flashings — inspect more frequently than inland guidance suggests. Salt air corrodes lead 30-40% faster here. Any sign of separation, cracking or white deposits on lead warrants a closer look.
- Valley blockage — the combination of coastal winds depositing debris and tree canopy in many Brighton neighbourhoods means valleys block more frequently than inland. Clear twice yearly as a minimum.
- Nail sickness on older properties — if your property has concrete interlocking tile from before 1980 and has never been re-roofed, a professional nail sickness assessment is worthwhile. The condition is invisible from ground level and from the loft.
We carry out free roof surveys across Brighton and East Sussex — including a written report of findings. Call 01273 973 996 to arrange.
The Short Version
- You can safely do most of a roof check from the ground with binoculars and from inside the loft — never climb onto the roof yourself.
- Look for slipped or missing tiles, damaged flashing, blocked or sagging gutters, and moss build-up on the outside.
- In the loft, check for daylight, damp stains, wet timbers and failed underlay — ideally during or just after rain.
- Brighton’s salt wind and exposure mean twice-yearly checks (autumn and spring) beat once a year.
- Anything you can’t see clearly, or any sign of a leak, is the point to get a professional roof-level inspection.
Getting the Right Roofer for This Job
The quality difference between roofing contractors in Brighton is significant — not just in price but in knowledge, specification and materials. For any job involving conservation area materials, lime mortar on Victorian properties, code 5 lead in coastal positions, or nail sickness assessment on older concrete tile, you need a roofer with specific experience of Brighton's housing stock.
The right way to assess a roofer for your job: ask specifically about their experience with your property type and the specific work required; ask for references from comparable recent jobs you can call; verify NFRC registration independently at nfrc.co.uk; get a written quote that specifies materials, not just a price.
What to Ask Before You Book
- Have you done this type of work on similar properties in Brighton?
- What mortar specification do you use on Victorian properties? (Answer should be lime)
- What lead code do you specify for this position? (Code 5 for exposed coastal)
- Can you provide references from similar recent jobs?
- Is your NFRC registration current? (Verify at nfrc.co.uk)
- What does the written guarantee cover and for how long?
We carry out free surveys across Brighton and East Sussex. Call 01273 973 996 to arrange.
Frequently Asked Questions
A ground-level check twice a year — late autumn and spring. A professional roof-level inspection every 5 years, or after any significant storm. At property purchase, insist on roof-level access as part of the survey.
Missing or visibly slipped tiles; ridge or hip tiles that appear displaced; obvious cracks in chimney stacks; guttering that appears to sag or pull away from fascias; water staining on external walls below the gutterline. These visible signs indicate work that needs doing.
Visible daylight through the roof structure; fresh damp patches on rafters or sarking felt; water dripping or running; debris on the loft floor from displaced insulation or felt. Any of these after a storm warrants a roof-level inspection promptly.
No. Standard RICS homebuyer surveys and building surveys typically do not include roof-level access. The surveyor observes the roof from ground level or through binoculars and notes obvious defects. Many roof conditions — nail sickness, lead failure, mortar decay — are not visible from ground level. A dedicated roof survey by a roofer who goes onto the roof is different.
Twice a year is the sensible rhythm on the coast — once in autumn before the winter storms and once in spring to catch any damage they caused. Brighton’s salt-laden wind and strong UV age roofs faster than inland, so the extra check pays off. Also look after any notable gale.
Plenty. From the ground with binoculars you can spot slipped, cracked or missing tiles, lifted or split flashing, sagging or overflowing gutters and heavy moss. From inside the loft you can check for daylight through the roof, damp patches, wet or stained timbers and failed underlay. That covers most early warning signs safely.
The moment you see something you can’t assess clearly, any active leak, or damage around the chimney, valleys or flashing — the places most leaks start. Those need a roof-level look, which isn’t a DIY job. A professional inspection gets safely to the areas you can’t, and puts findings in writing.
After any significant gale, yes — a quick ground-and-loft check. Brighton’s exposed position means storm winds lift and slip tiles and work at flashing, and catching a single displaced tile early stops water getting into the battens and felt, which is where a cheap fix becomes an expensive one.
No — a decent pair of binoculars for the outside and a torch for the loft cover most of it. The one firm rule is to stay off the roof itself; roof-level checks are for a professional with proper access. Everything on a homeowner’s checklist can be done safely from the ground and from inside the loft.
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026 · Brighton Roofing Experts