# Roof maintenance checklist URL: https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-maintenance-checklist/ Updated: 2026-10-17 > Most roof maintenance is observation, clear water paths and good records. Each season and after storms, check gutters, downpipes, ceilings and the visible roof from the ground, from inside or from a safe window. Keep branches trimmed back and keep dated photos and invoices. Leave anything that involves the roof itself, including gutter clearing at height, tile and ridge repairs and cleaning, to a professional. A roof does not need much attention most of the year, but it rewards a routine. Small problems such as a blocked downpipe, a slipped tile or a cracked ridge are cheap to deal with early and expensive once water has been getting in for a season. This checklist follows Perth's seasons and one rule: homeowners observe from the ground, from inside or from a safe window, and anything on the roof is left to someone equipped to work at height. Our guide to [roof safety for homeowners](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-safety-for-homeowners/) explains why. ## What does roof maintenance actually involve? Mostly looking, keeping water paths clear and fixing small things before they grow: checking the visible roof and gutters a few times a year, keeping trees back, arranging clearing and repairs when needed and recording what was done. For a symptom-by-symptom guide, read [signs your roof needs attention](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/signs-your-roof-needs-attention/). ## What can you check yourself, and what needs a professional? The dividing line is simple: if it needs a ladder at the roof edge or a foot on the roof, book it. | Task | What you can do safely | What to book a professional for | |---|---|---| | Tiles, ridges and sheets | Look from the garden, street or an upstairs window, using a phone's zoom | A close inspection or written condition report; see [roof inspections](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-inspection-perth/) | | Gutters and valleys | Watch them during heavy rain for overflow and drips | Clearing gutters, valleys and downpipe heads | | Downpipes and stormwater | Check water is flowing out at the bottom in rain | Flushing blocked downpipes; a plumber for soakwells and stormwater lines | | Ceilings and roof space | Look for stains, bubbling paint or mould after rain | Roof space checks; WA rules require workers to have the mains power off before going in | | Trees | Note branches touching or hanging over the roof | Pruning by a qualified arborist | | Sheltered steel near the coast | Hose eave gutters and fascias from the ground | Anything above head height | | Solar panels, aerials and coolers | Note anything loose, leaning or newly noisy | Service or repair by the relevant trade | *Image: An inspector photographing a cracked tile from a ladder at the gutter line. Close checks like this are a job for someone equipped to work at height.* ## A seasonal roof maintenance checklist ### Autumn: before the wet months - Book gutter, valley and downpipe clearing before the first heavy rain. - Look over the roof from the ground for slipped or cracked tiles, gaps in ridge pointing and lifted flashings, and book any repairs. - Check that downpipes are connected and that soakwell or stormwater outlets are not blocked or overflowing. - Arrange pruning of branches over the roof. ### Winter: during and after heavy rain - During a downpour, note which gutters overflow and where. - After each heavy rain, check ceilings, cornices and the areas around skylights and exhaust fans for new marks. - Keep a simple leak log: date, wind direction, how heavy the rain was and where water appeared. - After strong winds, walk around outside and look for displaced tiles, lifted sheets and branches on the roof. ### Spring: after the wet season - Review your winter notes and ask for quotes for anything that showed up. - Plan bigger jobs, such as repointing, restoration or replacement, for the drier months. - Look for new lichen or moss in shaded areas. - In bushfire prone areas, book gutter clearing and repairs to roof gaps before fire season. ### Summer: sun, heat and salt - From the ground, look for faded, chalky or peeling roof coatings and cracked sealant around flashings. - Near the coast, hose the underside of eave gutters and sheltered steel under the eaves. - Near bushland, keep gutters and the roof clear of leaves through fire season. - Ask for non-urgent roof work to be scheduled away from the hottest days. ## How should gutters and downpipes be looked after? Keep them clear and watch how they behave in rain. An overflowing gutter can push water under the roof edge, into the eaves and down the walls, and a blocked downpipe leaves standing water that rusts the gutter from the inside. In a heavy shower, water should run into the downpipes and out at the bottom, not spill over the front of the gutter. If you collect rainwater, Healthy WA advises keeping roof catchments, gutters and downpipes clean and clear of leaves, maintaining leaf traps and letting the first good rains each year run to waste, for example through a first flush diverter. Gutter guards reduce leaf build-up but still need checking. On an asbestos cement roof, gutter debris can contain asbestos, and WA Health prefers that an asbestos professional or competent tradesperson cleans those gutters. For damaged, sagging or rusted gutters, see [gutter repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/gutter-repairs-perth/). ## What should you do about trees near the roof? Keep branches well clear of the roof. Overhanging trees drop leaves and twigs into gutters and valleys, rub against tiles and coatings in wind, shade the roof so it stays damp and grows [lichen and moss](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/lichen-and-moss-on-roofs/), and give rats and possums a path onto the roof. Use a qualified arborist for anything beyond light pruning, and check your local government's rules first, because some trees are protected and verge trees are generally managed by the council. ## What should you check after a storm? 1. **Wait until it is safe.** Stay inside until the wind has dropped and any lightning has passed, and keep well away from fallen power lines. 2. **Walk around outside.** From the ground, look for missing or slipped tiles, lifted sheets or flashings, branches on the roof and dented or overflowing gutters. 3. **Check inside.** Look at ceilings and cornices in the rooms under any damage, and keep clear of ceilings that are wet or sagging. 4. **Record it.** Take dated photos of the damage and of any water inside. 5. **Get the right help.** If you cannot make it safe, call the SES on 132 500, or Triple Zero (000) if life is at risk. Then contact your insurer and a contractor; see [storm damage roof repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/storm-damage-roof-repairs-perth/). ## What records should you keep? Good records make repairs easier to match, warranties easier to use and claims easier to support. Keep a folder, paper or digital, with: - The roof material, tile or sheet profile and colour name, from plans, invoices or a previous contractor. - Where any spare tiles are stored and roughly how many there are. - Invoices and written scopes for every repair, clean or coating, with dates. - Product names and coating systems used, including colours. - Workmanship and product warranty documents, and any maintenance conditions they set. - Roof inspection reports, and the building inspection report from when you bought the house. - Seasonal photos from the same viewpoints, plus photos of any damage. - Insurance claim numbers and assessor reports. - Asbestos test results, building permits for any reroof and solar installation details. ## How do you get the roof ready before selling? Start with the records above, then find out what a buyer's inspector is likely to see. Building inspection reports commonly comment on ridges, pointing, broken tiles, rust and gutters, so our guide to [roof issues in building inspection reports](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-issues-in-building-inspection-reports/) is a useful preview. An independent [roof inspection](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-inspection-perth/) before listing lets you deal with genuine defects on your own timetable. Ask for itemised quotes that separate necessary repairs from cosmetic work, and keep the invoices to show buyers. The guide to [repair, restoration or replacement](https://perthroofquotes.com/repair-or-restoration/) helps decide how far to go. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do soakwells need maintenance? They can. Silt, leaves and roots washed down from the roof and garden build up in soakwells over time and reduce how much water they can take. Water pooling around the base of a downpipe, or gutters overflowing in heavy rain even after they have been cleared, can point to a soakwell or stormwater problem that a plumber can check. ### Do roof warranties require maintenance? Some do. Product and workmanship warranties can set conditions, such as keeping gutters clear or washing areas of a steel roof that rain does not reach. Read the conditions when you receive the documents, and keep dated records of the maintenance you arrange. ### Should a new or repaired roof be checked after its first winter? It is a sensible time to look. The first season of heavy, wind-driven rain is the real test of new work, so check ceilings and gutters during and after storms and report any problem to the contractor promptly, while the details of the job are fresh. ### Do I need council approval to prune trees over my roof? It depends on your local government and the tree. Some councils protect significant trees or trees in particular areas, and verge trees are generally managed by the council. Check with your local government before major pruning or removal, and use a qualified arborist. ### What roof records help when selling a house? Dated invoices and scopes for past repairs, roof inspection or condition reports, warranty documents and photos showing the roof over time. They help a buyer's inspector understand what has been done, and help you respond if the building report raises roof items.