Read the roof space before the kitchen
Why the most useful part of a pre-purchase inspection is the part buyers never see.
In short: A freshly painted ceiling tells you nothing. The timbers above it tell you what has been leaking.
What staining means
Dark marks on trusses and battens show where water has reached the roof space. Some are old and dry, some are active, and a moisture meter tells them apart.
What we found
On a March 2026 inspection in Braybrook, ceiling timbers showed water intrusion beneath a broken tile, with insulation displaced nearby.
Why it is missed
The ceiling below may have been patched and painted. From the rooms, the house looks fine.
What we look at
Tiles and ridges from inside and out, staining, insulation coverage and the condition of visible framing.
When we cannot get in
If the hatch is blocked or unsafe, the report says so. It is worth asking the agent for access before the inspection.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Manor Lakes. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
