The short answer
Yes, and early. A fault on a new roof is most often a fitting error, and the first two years are when the builder is responsible for putting it right. Have the roof looked at before you pass that point, list anything wrong, and report it in writing. With NHBC Buildmark cover, the builder answers for two years and insurance covers the next eight.
A new roof is not a finished roof. Fixings get missed and flashings get rushed, so find out while the builder must still fix them.
Why a new roof can still have faults
New does not mean perfect. A roof goes up quickly on a busy site, often with several trades working over and around it, and small faults are easy to miss. A tile missing its clip, a ridge tile left without a mechanical fixing, a flashing (a metal strip sealing the roof against a wall) that does not reach far enough, or a gutter laid at the wrong fall can all be built in from day one.
Which parts of a new roof deserve a second look?
It varies from site to site, so no list can promise what you will find. Modern estates often use dry-fix ridge and verge systems, which hold the ridge and the roof edge with clips and screws, not mortar alone. Marley notes that mortar alone is no longer trusted to hold ridge and hip tiles, and BS 8612 is the test specification for dry-fixed systems. Ask the builder how yours are fixed.
Faults like these may not show in the first dry weeks. They show when the first strong wind lifts a tile, or when the first heavy rain finds a gap. Looking early, while the roof is clean and the paperwork is fresh, makes them easier to prove and easier to put right.
Snagging and the builder's period
Snagging is the list of faults you find in a new home and give to the builder to fix. Most buyers think of it in terms of paint and doors, but the roof belongs on it, and so do the gutters, the soffits and fascias, and the loft.
What does NHBC Buildmark say about timing?
On NHBC's Buildmark page, cover means a builder warranty and NHBC guarantee for the first two years, then insurance for eight more, aimed at defects in certain parts of the home. Those first two years run from legal completion and fall to the builder. Years 3 to 10 are the insurance period. Check the papers you were given, because not every new home carries NHBC cover and the terms depend on the warranty.
The practical point is that the builder is on the hook only for that early stretch. Put every fault to the site manager by email, dated and with pictures, and keep copies. A roofer's report, naming the fault and its location, is far stronger than a phone call to the site office. Consider a first look just before the end of the first year, so there is time to act.
Nothing here is legal advice. Your warranty booklet and your solicitor are the places to confirm what applies to your home.
What a roofer looks for on a new roof
A roofer inspecting a new roof checks the things that tend to be rushed. They look along the ridge and the verge for missing or loose fixings, and at the valleys and flashings around the chimney, the dormers and any wall abutment. They check the tile or slate courses for slips and for cracked pieces left from the fitting. From the loft, they check the underlay for tears or untidy laps, the eaves detail, and the insulation and ventilation.
Should the roofer walk the roof?
On a new roof, usually not. A drone, or a lens on an extending pole, gives a clear view of the whole roof without foot traffic that could crack tiles. You then get pictures of each issue and where it sits, which you can pass to the builder.
Our guide to drone roof surveys explains where aerial pictures help. A look in the loft costs little and often finds what the outside hides, as our answer on loft access for a roof inspection explains.
Keep the roofer's findings factual and tied to places on the roof, so the builder has nothing to argue about.
Reporting a fault and what happens next
Write to the builder or the site manager, quoting your plot number and completion date. Describe each fault in a sentence, attach the photographs, and ask for a date by which they will visit. Keep the email or letter, and note every phone call with the date and name.
What if the builder will not act?
Look at your warranty documents for the next step. A new-home warranty may have a process for disputes during the builder's period, and the warranty provider can often be contacted directly. Citizens Advice runs a consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 for general advice, and your solicitor can tell you where you stand.
Do not let the builder's own roofer be the only person who looks. An independent roofer is paid to describe the roof, so the report is yours. If the fix needs work, get it done to match what the roof was meant to be, and ask for the repair in writing.
New estates around Taunton, such as Monkton Heathfield and Comeytrowe, show why a first-year look pays off. Our roof inspections page lists the ways we can look, and a survey gives you the photographs to send the builder.
More on new-build roofs
Does a new-build roof need a building control check?
New homes are built under Building Regulations, and building control signs the work off at completion. That check is not a snagging survey and does not promise there are no faults. Treat the completion certificate as a starting point, and have your own look at the roof as well, so a fault is not left unchecked.
Should I wait until something leaks before calling?
No. A leak means water has already reached the timbers or the ceiling. A look in the first year can find a loose fixing or a short flashing before it fails. Reporting early also keeps the claim well inside the builder's two-year period.
The full picture: Roof inspections in Taunton ยท More short answers