Industrial Roof and Cladding Surveys
ABS Cladding Services carries out roof, cladding and gutter surveys on warehouses, factories, distribution centres, schools and other commercial buildings. We survey all commercial and industrial roof types, including profiled metal, composite panel, flat and single-ply, and asbestos cement roofs. We work on commercial and industrial properties only and don’t take on domestic work.
Each survey ends with a written report: photographs of every defect, a condition rating for each part of the roof, and a schedule of recommended works in priority order. We’re based in Wolverhampton and work nationwide, and we’re trusted by clients including NHS Supply Chain.
Request a survey Download a sample report (PDF)
What’s included in an ABS survey report
Every report follows the same layout, so facilities and property teams can find what they need quickly. This is taken from a real ABS condition report:
- Cover and site details: site, building, inspection date, report reference and surveyor.
- Executive summary: a plain-English overview of what we found and what needs doing first, with an overall outcome (for example, “Urgent action required – 6 urgent items recorded”).
- Inspection scope and access: what was inspected (for example gutters, outlets, roof sheeting, end laps, ridge and roof lights), how we accessed the roof, and when the next visit is due.
- System inspection summary: a single table covering each roof element with its findings and a colour-coded rating.
- Condition rating key: Satisfactory, Monitor / Planned repair, or Urgent, so priorities are clear at a glance.
- Photographic evidence: a page for each area, with captioned photographs and a short record of location, condition, defects, recommendation and outcome.
- Repair options explained: where there’s more than one sensible fix, we set out each option with photos from earlier ABS projects. For example, gutter joints resealed with two coats of liquid GRP (5-year warranty), or a Fatra single-ply membrane gutter lining (25-year warranty).
- Prioritised works schedule: each recommended item with its priority and its own cost line (exclusive of VAT), so you can instruct items one at a time or budget for them over time.
- Ongoing maintenance position: what to keep an eye on, and how often gutters and outlets should be cleared.
- Sign-off and client approval: signed by the surveyor, with a space for the client to approve.
Types of survey
We survey all commercial and industrial roof types: profiled metal, composite panel, flat and single-ply, asbestos cement, and others. We work on commercial and industrial properties only and don’t take on domestic work.
- Roof condition surveys: a full visual inspection of the roof sheeting, fixings, laps, ridge, flashings and roof lights, with a condition rating for each element.
- Roof leak investigations: we trace where the water is getting in (gutter joints, outlets, laps, roof lights, flashings) and recommend a repair that deals with the cause.
- Gutter and outlet condition surveys: valley and perimeter gutters, joints, outlets and leaf guards, including whether the gutter is suitable for lining.
- Cladding surveys: wall cladding condition, cut-edge corrosion, coating failure, fixings and flashings.
- Asbestos cement roof condition surveys: a visual condition record of asbestos cement sheeting, for example ahead of over-cladding or a refurbishment. This is a visual condition survey; it doesn’t include asbestos sampling or testing.
- Pre-acquisition and dilapidation surveys: a record of roof and cladding condition for buyers, tenants and landlords at the start or end of a lease. These cover the roof, cladding and gutters only and aren’t a full building survey.
- PPM baseline surveys: a starting-point survey that sets the condition record and priorities for a planned preventative maintenance programme.
See the level of detail
This is a real ABS gutter, cladding and roof light condition survey of an industrial unit in the West Midlands. We’ve removed the client’s details and replaced every price with £0000, but the structure, photographs, ratings and recommendations are as issued to the client.
Download the sample report (PDF, 16 pages, 0.7 MB)
Who our surveys are for
- Facilities managers who need a clear condition record and a priority list they can take to budget holders.
- Landlords and property managers who want to know the condition of a roof before a letting, a lease renewal or the end of a lease.
- NHS and public sector estates teams who need photo-backed reports that fit planned maintenance and capital programmes. ABS is trusted by clients including NHS Supply Chain.
- Schools, academies and education buildings: estates and business managers who need a clear picture of roof and gutter condition. Where possible, surveys and any follow-on works can be scheduled for holiday periods to keep disruption to a minimum.
- Logistics and distribution sites, where a leak over racking or a loading bay can quickly disrupt operations.
- Manufacturers and industrial occupiers who want to plan roof works around production.
From survey to PPM and refurbishment
A survey usually leads to one of three next steps:
- Urgent repairs: anything rated Urgent is listed first, so the items with the highest risk of leaks can be dealt with quickly.
- Planned preventative maintenance (PPM): the survey gives a baseline for planned visits. For example, gutter and outlet clearing at set intervals through the year, with the roof sheeting, roof lights and ridge checked on each visit.
- Roof and gutter refurbishment: where repairs are no longer economical, the report sets out the refurbishment options, such as gutter lining, cut-edge corrosion treatment or roof sheet replacement.
Because ABS also carries out the work, the recommendations in the report are practical and can be priced item by item. You decide what to instruct and when.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a charge for the survey?
Free ground-level leak inspections. Full roof surveys using MEWPs or other roof access are charged, and we’ll quote before we attend.
Do you need access to the roof?
For a full survey, yes. We inspect at roof and gutter level where it’s safe to do so, using MEWPs or other roof access, and the report states what access was used.
What will the report include?
An executive summary, a condition rating for each roof element, captioned photographs of each defect, recommended repairs (with options where there’s more than one sensible approach) and a prioritised schedule of works. Download the sample report above to see a full example.
Can you find the cause of a roof leak?
Yes. A leak investigation looks at the likely entry points, including gutter joints, outlets, end laps, roof lights and flashings, and records the evidence with photographs so the repair deals with the cause rather than the symptom.
Do you survey houses or domestic roofs?
No. We work on commercial and industrial properties only and don’t take on domestic work.
Book a roof, cladding or gutter survey
Tell us about the building and the problem, whether it’s a leak, a roof you’re responsible for or a planned maintenance budget. We’ll arrange a visit and send you a clear, photo-backed report.
- Call 01902 653322
- Email info@abswestmidlands.co.uk
- ABS West Midlands Ltd, trading as ABS Cladding Services, 21 Merridale Lane, Wolverhampton WV3 9RD