Roof Condition Inspection – Visual & Drone
The condition and remaining service life of a roof, inspected from above, below and — where access is unsafe — by drone.
Who this report is for
Buyers, owners, landlords and owners corporations who need to know the true condition of a roof and what it is going to cost over the next few years.
When to order it
Before buying, before budgeting for maintenance, before solar or a re-roof, or after a storm.
What is inspected
- Roof covering condition — tiles, sheeting, corrosion, cracking, movement and deterioration
- Ridge capping, pointing, bedding and fixings
- Valleys, flashings, penetrations, vents and abutments
- Gutters, box gutters, downpipes, corrosion and overflow evidence
- The roof void: structure, sarking, insulation, ventilation and evidence of past water entry
- Visible roof structure condition — deflection, damaged members, previous alterations
- Areas that cannot be safely walked, inspected by drone where conditions and airspace permit
What you receive
- A written condition report with photographs from each vantage point used
- Defects prioritised, with an indication of what is urgent and what can wait
- A clear statement of which areas were inspected by which method
- Where relevant, the conditions that will shorten the roof’s remaining life
Important exclusions and limitations
Publishing this is unusual. It should not be — you should know where the gaps are before you rely on the document.
- Visual condition inspection only. It is not a leak investigation, though evidence of leaks is reported.
- It does not certify the roof, its structure or its remaining life, and it is not an engineering assessment.
- Drone inspection depends on weather, airspace, privacy and site conditions, and cannot be guaranteed to cover every area on every property.
- Concealed structure and areas beneath the covering are not assessed.
Technology and equipment used
- Professional FLIR thermal imaging
- FPV micro-drone access where safe and permitted
Thermal imaging identifies temperature anomalies and supports professional interpretation; it is not proof of a hidden defect on its own. Drone use depends on weather, airspace, privacy and site conditions and supplements physical inspection rather than guaranteeing complete coverage.
Turnaround
Need it fast? An urgent report is delivered within 6 hours of the inspection when you ask for one at the time of booking. Standard turnaround is confirmed in writing with your booking, before the inspection takes place.
Pricing
The guide price for this report starts at $349 (inc GST) for a standard job of this type. The confirmed figure is subject to travel distance and job complexity, and also depends on the property type and size, access, the scope of the report, urgency and any specialist equipment or testing required. You receive a confirmed price and a written scope before anything is booked.
- Property type and size
- Location and travel
- Access to the areas that need inspecting
- The scope of the report
- Complexity, and how many concerns are involved
- Urgency
- Any specialist equipment or testing required
Service areas
This report is available across Sydney, The Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. Outside these areas, call 1300 140 579 and ask — travel is often workable.
Questions
Questions about this report
When is the drone actually used?
When walking the roof would be unsafe or would damage it — steep pitches, brittle or deteriorated tiles, fragile sheeting, two-storey and above with no safe access. It is a way of seeing areas that would otherwise be reported as “not inspected”. It is not a replacement for physical access where physical access is safe and available.
Can you tell me how many years the roof has left?
Not as a number, and be wary of anyone who gives you one. What the report gives you is condition, deterioration pattern, the specific elements that are failing and what happens if they are not addressed.
Do you inspect the roof void as well?
Yes, where there is safe access. It is often the more informative half of a roof inspection.
Is this the same as a leak investigation?
No. A roof condition inspection reports the overall condition of the roof and its elements. A roof leak investigation starts from an active leak and works to find the entry point. If you already have water coming in, the leak investigation is the report you want.
Request a report
Tell us the property and the problem
You will get a confirmed price and a written scope before anything is booked. No deposit is taken to answer a question.
Would rather just talk it through?
1300 140 579Describe the property and the concern. You will get a straight answer about which report fits, including when the answer is that you do not need one.
- NSW Licensed Builder
- Professional Indemnity Insured
- $20 Million Public Liability Insurance
- More than 20 years of hands-on building experience
- Independent — the report is written for you
Enquiry received.
Thank you — your request has been sent and you will get a reply with availability, scope and cost.
If you are working to an auction or a cooling-off deadline and need an answer quickly, call 1300 140 579.