Roof Leak Investigation
Roof water enters in one place and appears in another. This investigation works backwards from the stain to the entry point.
Who this report is for
Owners, landlords, owners corporations and insurers with water coming through a ceiling, into a roof void, or down an internal wall.
When to order it
Immediately. Roof water reaches ceiling linings, insulation, framing and wiring, and the damage compounds with every rain event.
What is inspected
- The roof exterior — sheeting, tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, penetrations and fixings
- The roof void from inside, where safe access exists, which is usually where the evidence is clearest
- Gutters, box gutters, downpipes, overflow provision and evidence of overflow
- Flashings at chimneys, skylights, vents, aerials, solar fixings and wall abutments
- Moisture measurement to ceilings, insulation and top plates
- Thermal imaging to map where moisture has travelled through the ceiling
- Drone inspection of roof areas where physical access is unsafe or restricted, where conditions and airspace permit
What you receive
- A written report identifying the likely entry point and the path the water is taking
- Photographs from the roof, the roof void and the affected rooms
- Thermal images and recorded moisture readings
- A statement of what a repair has to achieve — and of the common repairs that will not fix this particular leak
- Where the evidence is inconclusive, what would settle it
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.
- Safety governs access. Steep, brittle, fragile or deteriorated roofs are not walked, and the report says which areas were assessed from the ground, from the void or by drone instead.
- Drone use depends on weather, airspace, privacy and site conditions, and it supplements physical inspection rather than guaranteeing complete coverage.
- Non-destructive. No tiles, sheets or linings are removed.
- A leak that only occurs in specific weather may not be observable on the day.
Technology and equipment used
- Professional FLIR thermal imaging
- Moisture measurement and mapping
- 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 $445 (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
The roofer replaced tiles and it still leaks.
Very common. Tile replacement addresses the tiles; a high proportion of roof leaks are at flashings, valleys, box gutters and penetrations, or are overflow rather than leakage. Working from inside the roof void, where the water actually lands first, usually tells a different story from working on top of it.
Do you go on the roof?
Where it is safe. Where it is not, the roof is inspected from the void, from the ground with optical assistance, and by drone where conditions allow. The report always states which method was used for which area.
Can you inspect while it is raining?
Sometimes that is exactly the right time to see it, and sometimes it is unsafe. Mention it when you book and it can be planned around.
Do you need access to the roof space?
Yes, wherever there is safe access. The roof void is usually where the evidence is clearest, because it shows where water lands first. If the roof space is inaccessible, has no manhole, or is filled with insulation or stored goods, that limits what can be established and the report says so.
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.