A roof report tells you what condition your roof is really in, what’s wrong, how urgent it is and what your options are, with photos to back it up. We inspect roofs across Melbourne for homeowners, buyers, builders, strata, insurers and property managers. You get a plain-English report you can act on, not a sales pitch.
Call us 24/7: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Why a proper report matters
G’day, I’m Victor from Holy Mess Repairs. A lot of people have had someone look at their roof from a ladder, say “she needs replacing,” and hand them a quote. That’s not a report. A report should show you each problem, explain why it matters, say which trade fixes it, and give you options, including the cheaper ones if they’ll do the job.
That’s how we write ours. Sometimes the answer is a full replacement. Sometimes it’s a few hundred dollars of repairs. Either way, you’ll know why.
When you need a roof report
- You’ve got a leak and want to know what’s causing it and what else is failing
- You’re buying or selling and want to know what you’re getting into
- A new roof was just installed and you want an independent check before you make final payment
- You’re in a dispute with a builder or roofer about the quality of the work
- You need it for insurance, after storm or wind damage
- You manage a property or strata and need to plan and budget for maintenance
How our roof report works
- Tell us why you need it. A leak report, a pre-purchase check and a new-build compliance check focus on different things.
- We inspect. We get on the roof where it’s safe, use a drone where it isn’t, and check the roof space where we can get in.
- We measure and check. Gutter falls, fixings, flashings, valleys, ridges, penetrations and drainage, checked against the Australian Standards and manufacturer requirements that apply.
- You get a photo report. Each defect gets a photo, what it means, how urgent it is and which trade fixes it.
- Options and costs. Where you want them, we lay out repair, restoration and replacement options with pros, cons and costs. You decide.
What’s in the report
- Photos (and video where useful) of every defect
- Plain-English explanation of each problem and why it matters
- Measurements where they count, like gutter falls
- Priority: what needs doing now and what can wait
- Which trade is responsible, which matters for new builds and disputes
- Areas we couldn’t inspect, and why
- Repair options and costs, if you want them
You own the report. Take it to your builder, insurer, conveyancer or any licensed tradie.
Roofs we inspect across Melbourne
Older homes, terraces and heritage roofs
Slate, terracotta and old galvanised iron roofs have been patched many times over. We check the valleys, flashings, chimneys, ridges and gutters as one system, because that’s how they fail.
New builds
New roofs can be non-compliant from day one. We’ve measured eaves gutters on brand-new homes with almost no fall at all. An independent report before final payment gives the builder a clear list to fix while you still have leverage.
Units, strata and housing providers
On multi-unit sites we inspect each roof and give one report that compares them, so owners and managers can plan works in a sensible order.
Insurance and storm damage
After wind or storm damage, a good report separates what the storm did from what was already there, and sets out a repair scope the insurer can assess.
Watch: roof inspections
Roof report or dye test?
A roof report looks at the condition of the whole roof. A dye test finds exactly where a specific leak gets in. If you’ve got a leak nobody can find, start with the dye test. If you want to know the overall state of the roof, or you need evidence for a builder, buyer or insurer, get the report. Sometimes you need both.
What does a roof report cost in Melbourne?
Price depends on what you need, from $450 + GST for an inspection and quote, up to $1,800 + GST for a detailed report for a legal case. We’ll tell you the price before we book you in.
Our offer: if you’re not impressed with the advice, we’ll refund you $110.
Covered by Professional Indemnity insurance
Our roof reports are covered by our Professional Indemnity insurance, just like our dye test reports. If we make a mistake or leave something out of our advice and it costs you money, that insurance is there to cover it.
Real Melbourne roof report jobs
Ringwood: four units at the end of their life
For a social housing roof upgrade (arranged through an inspection consultancy), we inspected the roofs of four units, about 350 m² combined, from the outside. The old galvanised corrugated sheets had large areas of missing or rusted-through screws, failed sealant and rust around pipe penetrations, moss and lichen, debris-filled gutters and poor wall-to-roof flashings. We recommended full replacement to match the units already upgraded, and set out cheaper interim options with their risks.
Vermont South: steep tiled roof, leak plus wider wear
A steep A-frame concrete tile roof was leaking. The report confirmed a cracked lead flashing (with an old silicone patch that had failed) as the main leak. It also found broken valley bedding sitting in the valley trays, loose ridge pointing and porous tiles. We gave three options: patch the flashing only ($3,250 + GST, which we flagged as likely to fail at the valleys), a full restoration ($37,830 + GST), or replacement ($64,000–$74,000 + GST).
Donnybrook: storm damage report for insurance
After high winds took out a section of tiles on a modern concrete tile roof, we made it safe and wrote a forensic report for the insurer. It showed unclipped tiles around the damage, cracked ridge pointing across the hips and ridges, and a fine crack repeated across many tiles. That’s why a few replacement tiles wouldn’t fix it.
Balwyn North: new roof checked before final payment
On a new home, our digital level measured eaves gutter falls of 0.15–1.05 mm per metre, well under the 2 mm per metre minimum. The box gutter areas were ponding and relying on silicone. We listed every defect by trade and priority so they could be fixed before final payment.
Warranty
If you go ahead with repairs, the warranty follows the type of work and the materials used, and matches the material supplier’s warranty. A patch repair carries a short warranty and a new roof a long one. We spell this out in each option, so you can compare them properly.
Why Holy Mess Repairs
- Licensed roof plumbers. Victorian roof plumbing licence 32176, recognised Australia-wide (including the ACT) under mutual recognition laws.
- Covered by Professional Indemnity insurance, like our dye test reports.
- $110 refund if you’re not impressed with the advice.
- Rated by real customers. Around 4.4 stars from 120+ Google reviews.
- Independent advice. We can do any of the options, so we’re not pushing one.
- Photos for every defect, with the standard or requirement it relates to.
- A report you own.
- Open 24/7.
HOLYMESS PTY LTD · ABN 31 666 327 813
Melbourne roof report FAQs
What’s included in a roof inspection report?
Photos of each defect, what it means, how urgent it is, which trade fixes it, measurements where relevant, areas we couldn’t inspect, and repair options and costs if you want them.
Do you inspect new roofs before final payment?
Yes. We check the work against the standards and the plans, and list each defect for the builder or roof plumber to fix before you pay.
Can I use the report for an insurance claim?
Yes. We document the damage, the likely cause, and a repair scope your insurer can assess. Whether they accept the claim is up to them.
Do you go on the roof?
Yes, where it’s safe. On steep or fragile roofs we use a drone and other safe access, and we check the roof space where we can get in.
Will you just try to sell me a new roof?
No. We set out the options, including cheaper repairs where they’ll work, with the pros, cons and risks of each.
How long does it take to get the report?
It depends on the size and type of report. We’ll tell you the turnaround when you book.
Roof report or dye test: which do I need?
For a leak nobody can find, start with a dye test. For the overall condition of the roof, or evidence for a builder, buyer or insurer, get a roof report.
Do you inspect commercial and strata roofs?
Yes, including multi-unit sites, where we compare the roofs in one report.
How much does a roof report cost in Melbourne?
It depends on what’s required, from $450 + GST for an inspection and quote, up to $1,800 + GST for a report for a legal case. If you’re not impressed with the advice, we’ll refund you $110.
Are your reports insured?
Yes. Our roof reports are covered by our Professional Indemnity insurance, like our dye test reports.
Know what you’re dealing with
Get a clear, honest report on your roof, with photos for every problem and options you can act on.
Call Victor and the team, 24/7: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Holy Mess Repairs · Unit 10, 238–244 Edwardes St, Reservoir VIC 3073 · Serving Melbourne and surrounding areas
In Canberra? See roof reports in Canberra. Chasing a leak? See leak detection and dye testing and box gutter repairs.