Viewed Victorian Property - how does this roof look like?

[Deleted User]

The roof on our victorian property was by no means new with various minor stop gap repairs. However, there were no leaks and none in 4 years since we moved in. What might not look visually pleasing can still be perfectly fine. Let us know what a survey says about the roof.

stuart45

From the photos it looks like an old, nail sick roof with  bodged up sand/cement fillets instead of proper flashings. Typical flipper job, including painting the front to make it look better for your initial impression, but leaving the back wall which was in worse condition.

Niv

FreeBear said:

Bookworm105 said:

slate roof, so almost certain to be original but with dubious flashing around chimney and wall

A cement fillet - No where near as good as proper lead flashing. It will crack and start to leak. That said, it looks to be relatively new, so possibly replaced sometime in the last 20 years or so. A few of the ridge tiles look as if they could do with rebedding. Lead flashing also required above the porch area.

Another concern is the pebbledash render - It will trap moisture within the solid brick walls, leading to damp issues. But if it is just limited to the upper half, it shouldn't be too higher a concern. Keep an eye on it, patch any cracks as they appear.

I came here to say pretty much what Freebear has said but would also add that a couple of tiles look loose so you would want to get those looked at, it could be that the nails are rotting away so may become prudent to put a plan in place to redo all. There is also look like there is a slight dip in the roof (photo 1), this could indicate that some of the batons are past their best and need replacement.

bbbuyer

stuart45 said:

From the photos it looks like an old, nail sick roof with  bodged up sand/cement fillets instead of proper flashings. Typical flipper job, including painting the front to make it look better for your initial impression, but leaving the back wall which was in worse condition.

Yeah I don’t think they touched the roof at all.

theartfullodger

Get a formal survey - maybe 2 surveys - & make sure concerns raised in them.  Then negotiate price....

stuart45

bbbuyer said:

stuart45 said:

From the photos it looks like an old, nail sick roof with  bodged up sand/cement fillets instead of proper flashings. Typical flipper job, including painting the front to make it look better for your initial impression, but leaving the back wall which was in worse condition.

Yeah I don’t think they touched the roof at all.

At least you know in advance. Those parapet/fire walls are often a problem as well. Years ago I worked for a firm that subbed from the council. When the council used to buy up blocks of old terraced houses, the first thing they did was to take down the firewall below the roofline, or rebuild it in some cases.

bbbuyer

Just found a picture before the flip in the first floor bedroom. Can see some loose tiles and  some wall damage on the party wall coming off the ceiling.
Could that be water ingress from above (i.e. roof) or something else?
My fear is I put solicitors/survey in and survey says roof needs replacment there are leaks and then they won’t negotiate/we have to pull out and start over.