What is wrong with my roof?

Record the time rain starts and when water appears. A roofer needs to inspect the covering and the junctions upslope of the affected area; plumbing can also need investigation.

Note the wind direction if known. Flashings, abutments and penetrations may behave differently in wind-driven rain. This pattern does not identify a single failed component.

Record bathroom use, heating and cold mornings as well as rainfall. Condensation, plumbing and rain entry can produce similar marks and can occur together.

A local repair may be possible if neighbouring coverings, fixings and the underlying system are serviceable. Ask the roofer to explain what can be confirmed and what remains concealed.

Ask for evidence showing whether damage is local or widespread. Several failures can justify a wider survey; they do not automatically prove that a full replacement is necessary.

Keep clear of the area beneath loose material. When safe, take ground-level photographs and preserve records for your insurer if you intend to contact it. Cover depends on the actual policy and cause.

Record whether moisture is widespread or concentrated. Tell the inspector about extraction, loft insulation and blocked openings. A cold-weather pattern is useful evidence, not a confirmed condensation diagnosis.

Record the position and timing, including whether wind affects it. A roof survey may need to consider coverings and junctions alongside moisture and ventilation inside the loft.

Keep the specification and before-and-after photographs. Ask the contractor to review the whole ventilation and insulation arrangement rather than adding vents without diagnosis.

Record how long it remains and whether the area changes over time. Ask for assessment of falls, outlets and deck condition against the installed system's guidance; do not assume a new membrane alone will correct drainage.

Keep a record of the leak timing and location. The inspection should consider outlets, laps, rooflights, abutments and the condition beneath the covering, not only the visible wet patch.

Photograph the change from a safe location. An inspector should distinguish a local defect from a wider covering or substrate problem before recommending patching, overlay or renewal.

Record whether the overflow is widespread or near an outlet. An inspection can distinguish restrictions, alignment and capacity; cleaning alone will not solve every cause.

Show the joint in context and note whether it leaks in ordinary rain. The assessment should include supports and movement as well as the seal.

Record the affected area inside and outside. Gutters, roof junctions and other wall defects can produce similar damp patterns, so describe the observation without assuming the source.

Start with a condition survey rather than a replacement assumption. Ask which items are sound, which need maintenance and which require investigation.

Put previous repair descriptions and costs together. Ask whether the recurring issue is one unresolved defect or a wider system failure, and request comparable repair and renewal scopes where both are viable.

Ask for checks on roof pitch, loading, fixing design, appearance and any permissions before changing the covering. Compare the complete build-up rather than material cost alone.