Worker using secured access equipment on a pitched roof.

Roof leaking or damaged? Find the right repair route

See what to do now, compare the repair routes and understand what to check before choosing work—without climbing up or guessing the cause.

Describe your roof problem Find the right service

If water is coming in now

Keep people away from a bulging ceiling, falling material, visible structural movement or water near electrical fittings. Use the emergency services, electricity network emergency line or another appropriate safety service if anyone is in immediate danger. Do not climb onto the roof, enter an unsafe roof void or lean from a window to look for the source.

Once the area below is safe, note when the leak started, which room is affected and whether wind or heavy rain changes it. A bucket may limit a drip where it can be placed safely, but temporary water control is not a roof repair. The urgent guide explains what to do now and what still needs a proper diagnosis.

Follow the emergency roof guide Check the urgent repair route

Choose between repair, inspection, flat and heritage help

Choose roof repairs when a stable defect is already visible, such as a slipped slate, broken tile or failed flashing. Choose an inspection when the cause is uncertain, leaks return after earlier work, several roof areas are involved or you need condition findings before deciding what to repair.

Use the flat-roof route for membranes, decks, outlets, ponding and perimeter details. Use the heritage route where natural slate, lead, lime mortar, listed status or a conservation setting may affect the repair. On a shared tenement roof, check whether a factor coordinates access or common repairs. You do not need to diagnose the fault yourself; start with the roof type or the problem you can safely see.

Compare all roofing routes Check whether an inspection fits

Before approving work, check the diagnosis and scope

Before approving work, you should understand what was inspected, the likely cause, what could not be seen, whether the proposal is temporary or permanent, and why the repair area is proportionate. The scope should name connected details such as valleys, chimneys, flashings, outlets or the roof deck when they affect the fault.

Do not choose work, set a budget or make access plans from one online description or photograph. Check the concealed-condition limits, final specification, price, permission, availability and attendance arrangements for the actual roof and address before committing.

See the roof survey checklist Describe the roof problem

Slate roof and chimney junction showing roof-covering and flashing details.

Start with the symptom

The first damp mark may not sit below the leak

A ceiling mark, slipped covering, overflowing gutter or damp chimney breast can point to different parts of the roof. The visible sign alone may not confirm the cause.

Water can travel along underlay, timber or masonry before it appears indoors. Note the room, timing and weather pattern, then use the inspection route if the source is still unclear.

Record where the sign appears and when it changes.
Name the roof type only when it is already known.
Keep all observations to safe interior, ground-level or normal-window viewpoints.

Compare roofing services Roof inspections

Choose a route

Start with the problem you need solved

A leak, slipped slate and ponding flat roof need different checks. Pick the closest description, then compare the likely cause, repair boundary and inspection limits before choosing work.

Flat roofing

For leaks, ponding, splits, failed outlets or questions about repairing versus replacing a low-slope roof.

Heritage roofing

For traditional slate, lead, lime mortar, listed buildings and repairs where original fabric or appearance matters.

Roof repairs

For a visible or suspected defect involving slate, tile, flashing, valleys, chimneys or connected pitched-roof details.

Inspections and surveys

For an unclear leak, repeated failure, several affected areas or condition evidence before choosing the work.

Flat roof membrane, outlet and edge detail being inspected.

Flat roofing decisions

A flat-roof leak can involve more than the surface

Ponding water, failed outlets, split membranes and tired edge details can overlap. The repair question starts with how the surface, deck and drainage work together.

Compare a contained repair with wider replacement only after the membrane, outlets, edges, penetrations, falls and any accessible deck evidence have been considered together.

Material names such as GRP, felt, EPDM and single ply do not decide the answer on their own. The existing build-up, water path and condition should lead the choice.

Explore flat roofing Flat roof repairs

Traditional slate, leadwork and stone roof details on a Scottish heritage building.

Heritage roofing decisions

Repair an older roof without losing sound fabric

Traditional roofs need careful inspection before materials are disturbed, especially on listed buildings, churches, conservation properties and older Scottish slate roofs.

Repair planning looks at slate, lead, lime mortar, chimney detailing and survey findings before historic roof fabric is disturbed.

The focus is careful, conservation-aware roof repair for older Scottish buildings where materials, appearance and weathering details matter.

Explore heritage roofing Listed building roof repairs

What happens next

From the first sign to a clear repair decision

Use safe observations to understand what has happened, then compare the likely cause, repair scope, inspection limits and next action before deciding.

01
Make the area safe

Keep clear of unstable ceilings, falling material and water near electrics. Never climb to investigate.
02
Timing and weather

Give the affected room or roof area, when the sign appeared, recent conditions and earlier relevant work.
03
Check the roof and connected details

The covering, junctions, drainage, access and hidden limitations all shape the diagnosis.
04
Compare the repair options

Separate urgent protection from the permanent scope, price and any permission or further investigation.

Practical roof advice

Start with the guide for your problem

Use these guides for immediate safety, the signs worth checking and the questions to ask before choosing a repair.

Read roofing advice

Recording an active leak safely

Protect people and the room, note timing and weather, and avoid roof access or wet electrical fittings.

Emergency repair route

Flat-roof signs worth sharing

Separate the surface, outlets, edges and room below, using only observations available from a safe position.

Flat roof repair route

Traditional-roof details that help

Keep previous specifications, building status and safe photographs of slate, lead or masonry signs together.

Heritage survey route

Scottish rooftops and varied property types used to explain local repair and access contexts.

Scottish area guides

Roof and property questions across Scotland

Use the nearest guide for common property, ownership, exposure, access and planning questions. An area guide is not proof of availability at an exact address, so check the address before making timing or access plans.

Glasgow Edinburgh Aberdeen Dundee Perth Ayrshire Fife Falkirk Stirling Inverness

Compare area guides

Questions before an assessment

Practical answers about choosing a route, gathering information safely and sending an enquiry.

Which roofing route should I choose?

Choose the route that best matches the visible sign. If the cause or overall roof condition is unclear, use roof inspections and surveys or select something else in the assessment form.

Should I go onto the roof to check the problem?

No. Use safe interior, ground-level or normal-window observations. Do not use a ladder, access hatch or adjoining roof solely to gather information or photographs.

Can I make plans as soon as I send the form?

No. Sending details is not a diagnosis, quotation or appointment. Check the repair route, scope, price and attendance arrangements before booking access, moving occupants or relying on a date.

Next step

Tell us what has happened to the roof

Use six short steps to explain the problem, property and safe access. You do not need to diagnose the fault or climb for photographs.

Describe the roof problem Call 01383 252038