With the median value for Brisbane properties closing in on $900,000 (April 2025), a pre-purchase building and pest inspection is more important than ever for aspiring home buyers.
A roof inspection will be conducted as part of this process, and any findings outlined in your building and pest inspection report from Trimax Building Inspections.
Rain, Hail and Shine: Brisbane Roofs take a Beating
The aim of the roof inspection is to identify any potential defects or hazards that may lead to unexpected or costly repairs. At Trimax Building Inspections, our checklist includes examining the roof cavity as well as the condition of the exterior of the roof. And because we aren’t affiliated with a roofing repairer, you are assured of an objective report.
Specifically, our building inspector will look for:
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- Hail Damage: Here in Brisbane we are prone to severe storms, with hail stones causing damage to tin rooves, or more worryingly, an asbestos rooves. In the case of asbestos, any dents or breakage mean that the roof must be replaced urgently, as the fibres pose a significant health hazard not just to that home’s residents but also to the whole street.
- Cracked, Displaced, or Broken Tiles: Problems may be difficult to spot from inside the roof if insulation or sarking (a protective membrane that sits under tiles) has been installed.
- Rust and Cracks: When inspecting a tin roof, it’s essential to check both the exterior and the underside, particularly in the roof cavity. Solar panels and solar hot water systems, while beneficial for sustainability, can obscure parts of the roof, making it harder to detect damage. The underside of the roof, often hidden by these installations, may show signs of corrosion that are not visible from above.
- Sealants and Flashing: Our independent building inspector will assess the seals around pipes, vents, and skylights and check the pointing for any cracks or leaks. It is vital to ensure flashings, the metal strips that prevent water penetration at roof junctions, have been correctly installed and are well insulated and corrosion-free.
- Evidence of Termites: No timber is termite proof. A roof truss eaten out by termites is an extreme structural hazard which should be rectified immediately.
- Other Common Defects: These may include damage caused by solar panel installations, rusted-out guttering, leaf debris blocking gutters, and even wear and tear from foot traffic during maintenance or inspections.
Signs on the Ceiling
You can also expect our building inspector to subject the ceiling to scrutiny as part of the roof inspection, as this can provide telltale signs of roof leaks.
A sagging or bowed ceiling could be a result of water pooling, which weakens structural integrity. Other indications may include stains or mould on the ceiling, or bubbling or blistering paint – although these last two can also be signs of termites. Needless to say, none of these are desirable if you are a homeowner, or serious about purchasing the property.
Roof Inspections Brisbane
At Trimax Building Inspections, we will provide you with a report which is easy to understand, and that clearly sets out major and minor defects or hazards.
Given Brisbane’s property prices, a professional building and pest inspection – including a roof inspection – is an essential investment if you want to avoid nasty surprises later on. We can also provide a separate roof inspection if required, however conditions apply. Contact us today to find out more.