How can looking for old patchwork spots on the roof surface reveal repeated leakage issues?

 How can looking for old patchwork spots on the roof surface reveal repeated leakage issues?

Roofs with lots of different patches—some newer cement, some old sealant, some random tiles stuck in—often tell a story of repeated leakage fixes. Each patch may have solved a leakage for a while, but if there are many such areas, it might mean the underlying waterproofing was never fully redone.

A few small repairs are normal. But if large sections are covered in mismatched materials, you can guess that top-floor flats have probably battled seepage more than once.

It doesn’t mean you must run away, but it does mean you should ask direct questions and understand when a proper full-surface solution is planned.