Owning your own home

This is what the survey said about the roof. It's cut and paste nonsense.

10.1 Chimney Stacks and Flashings
There is one chimney stack visible from the front of the property to the left hand side on the party wall and is shared with the neighbour. The chimney stack is rendered with the original chimney pots remaining and there is fairly rough pointing to the brickwork and flaunching. Whilst this is in generally satisfactory condition you should anticipate some repairs will be needed in the medium term. There are a further two chimney stacks visible from the rear of the property to the right hand side party wall and to the left rear elevation on the left hand side party wall and both the stacks again are shared with the neighbour. Again some repair work should be anticipated to brickwork but generally these are in satisfactory order with pointing and brickwork being fair. The original chimney pots remain and although some lean was noted they are considered satisfactory and the lead flashings are only partially visible and where visible are in satisfactory condition. You will appreciate that these structures are on the most exposed part of the building and will be prone to heavier weathering. Good maintenance is therefore essential to these structures. In view of the age of the property, the stacks are unlikely to contain a damp-proof course, and therefore, even with the flashings in good repair, some internal dampness may occur from time to time.

10.2 Roof and Valleys
Roof slopes or flat areas which cannot be seen have been specifically excluded from our report although attention is drawn to their presence.
The main roof is pitched and covered with the original natural slates which are weathered but appear to be in generally satisfactory condition. Natural slates however do have a limited life, but the coverings are considered to be suitable for the medium term. The front bay roof is pitched and covered with artificial slates which are weathered and satisfactory and the lead flashings here are satisfactory with no significant defects or lifting noted. The roof to the rear extension is flat and is felted. The rear extension flat roof covering is visible from the bathroom window and is in generally satisfactory order. The lifespan of a flat roof is difficult to predict. The surface may appear sound, however, a minor surface defect can cause deterioration to the fabric beneath. Such problems can go undetected for a period of time. Flat roof structures should be subject to careful maintenance on a regular basis. Joint detailing to flat roof edges are vulnerable points. Materials used for such details should be carefully positioned and kept in good order. Preferable materials include metal flashings or purpose made prefabricated fittings. The life expectancy of mineral felt flat roof coverings is normally between 10 and 15 years. It is therefore important that such coverings be inspected annually to address any defects that may result in future water penetration; to redistribute stone chippings where provided; to ensure drainage outlets are clear and that weathering to abutments is in a satisfactory condition. Prolonged exposure to sunlight and the effects of temperature changes make the felt brittle as it ages. When it becomes brittle it is no longer able to absorb the roof deck movements and it begins to crack, ultimately letting in water.These cracks are generally difficult to detect and accordingly, the first sign that the roof is defective is often the appearance of a leak inside. As soon as coverings start to leak, they require stripping and replacement. By the nature of the material, leaks can manifest themselves without warning. The rear addition roof coverings are visible from the rear hallway window and a pitched and covered in artificial slate which have weathered but are satisfactory and the lead flashings here also has some age but are in overall satisfactory condition. The back addition roof is of single pitch design. The rafters are supported at their head on a wall plate attached to the party wall and their feet sit on a plate supported on the external side wall.