Roof warning signs
worth acting on.

From Lincoln and Josh at Linc Point · Updated October 2026

You do not need to climb up to spot most roof problems. Stand back in the yard, or across the street, and have a proper look on a clear day. A pair of binoculars helps. Then check the ceilings inside. Between the two you will catch a lot.

We are not engineers, and a look from the ground cannot see everything. But it tells you whether it is time to get a roofer up there for a proper look.

Tile roofs

Cracked, slipped or missing tiles

A tile that is out of line, cracked or missing lets water straight in. Wind can lift or crack tiles, and so can someone walking on them. One slipped tile is a small fix. Leave it, and the water damage underneath is not.

Ridge capping and pointing

Ridge caps are the curved tiles along the top of the roof and down the hips. They are held in place with bedding and pointing. Over the years the pointing cracks and crumbles. Look for gaps, missing chunks, or caps that sit out of line. In wind-driven rain, that is a common way water gets in.

Moss, lichen and built-up dirt

Mostly cosmetic, but heavy growth holds moisture against the tiles and can hide cracks. Worth a closer look if it is thick.

Metal roofs

Rust

Surface rust spots can often be treated. Rust that has eaten through, or sheets that look flaky along the laps and edges, means replacement is on the cards. Homes near the coast see it sooner, because salt air is hard on metal.

Screws and nails

Look for screws that have backed out, missing screws, or rust stains running down from the fixings. Some older roofs are fixed with nails, which can work loose over the years. Loose fixings are how sheets lift in strong wind.

Lifted or dented sheets

Edges curling up, sheets that look out of line, or dents after hail. Any of those can let water in, or give the wind something to grab.

Flashings and valleys

Flashings are the metal strips that seal the joins: where the roof meets a wall, and around chimneys, skylights, vents and solar panel mounts. Valleys are the channels where two roof slopes meet. If flashings are lifting or rusted, or the sealant has cracked, water gets in. Valleys full of leaves can overflow under the tiles.

Inside the house

• Brown stains or rings on the ceiling, especially new ones
• Bubbling or peeling paint near the ceiling line
• A musty smell or mould in one corner of a room
• Daylight showing in the roof space
• Drips, or damp insulation

If you look in the roof space, do it from the manhole with a torch. Do not walk across the ceiling unless you know exactly where to step.

A stain does not always sit right under the leak. Water can run along a rafter before it drips, so the source might be a metre or two away from the mark on the ceiling. Not sure if it is the roof or the plumbing? The water meter test in our simple home checks helps tell them apart.

The roof edge

Gutters are part of the roof system. Overflowing or rusted gutters can push water back under the roofline and into the eaves. Our gutters and downpipes guide covers what to look for.

When to get it looked at

• Any new ceiling stain, even a small one
• After a big storm or hail, even if nothing looks wrong yet
• Before storm season, if the roof is older or has not been looked at for a few years
• Any time you can see one of the signs above

Please stay off the roof

Tiles crack underfoot, metal is slippery when it is wet or dusty, and the fall is the dangerous part. A ladder at the gutter line, with someone footing it, is as far as most people should go. Further than that is a job for someone with the training and the gear.

What a check from us covers

Our Free Storm Ready Check is a visual check of the roof, gutters, downpipes and the outside of the home, with photos and a short written summary. It is practical maintenance advice, not a building or engineering inspection. If something needs fixing, we put the quote together and line up a licensed local trade to do it.