Roofs and flat roofs
Fallen torching lies on the loft boards. Has it been rebedded, or only seen as debris?
It has only been seen as debris. Fallen torching on the loft boards is mortar that has dropped from the underside of the tiles. The survey records the pieces where they lie. It has not rebedded them, has not pointed the tiles from above, and has not restored anything. Old torching was a mortar layer under the tiles, used before modern underlays were common. Debris on the boards shows that layer has been lost in places. It does not show that anyone has put it back. The covering at that point stays as found.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
When torching falls, the tiles above may be left without the bedding that closed the gaps, and the loft collects the evidence. The survey can see the pile and, if the light allows, the underside the mortar left. It cannot from that pile prove which tiles are now loose, or that the rest of the slope is sound. Rebedding would be roofing work done from the right side of the covering. A home survey does not carry a trowel for that. Seeing the mess is the whole of this finding.
Ask a roofer to inspect the slope if you need to know whether the tiles are still held, and do not sweep the loft and call that a repair. Tell the solicitor the torching is on the boards, not back on the tiles. A quote should name the loss of torching rather than a general roof allowance you invent yourself. The survey has not priced the work and has not done it. The debris remains evidence, not a finished job.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Has the fallen torching been rebedded?
- Is debris on the boards evidence of loss rather than of repair?
- Did this visit point the tiles from above?
What are the typical next steps?
- Treat the torching as seen, not restored.
- Ask a roofer if the holding of the tiles must be checked.
- Do not describe a swept loft as a rebedded roof.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does fallen mortar mean every tile on the slope is loose?
No. It means mortar has dropped from somewhere above the boards. The survey has not lifted the tiles and has not mapped which ones have lost their bedding. Some of the slope may still be tight. Ask a roofer to look if you need that map. Do not condemn the whole covering from a pile of debris.
Is torching the same as a modern underlay?
No. Torching is an older mortar layer on the back of the tiles. An underlay is a sheet. Finding fallen mortar does not tell you an underlay is present, and it does not tell you one is missing. The survey saw debris. Read any separate note about felt or membrane on its own. The two materials are not interchangeable.