Flat roof survey

How it works

1. You tell us the size and type of roof, its age if known and any leaks.
2. We agree access and a date; surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
3. We inspect the covering, upstands, edges, outlets and gutters where it is safe to do so.
4. We look for ponding, splits, blisters and deflection, and check inside below the roof where we can.
5. Your report sets out the condition of the roof, the defects and our recommendations.

How long flat roofs last

Felt flat roofs often last around 15–20 years, EPDM rubber 30–50 years and GRP up to about 30 years, but the detailing and drainage matter as much as the material.

Commercial roofs

On offices, units and blocks of flats we also look at rooflights, plant upstands and the rainwater outlets. Fragile rooflights and roof sheets are only inspected from safe positions.

A real survey

We surveyed the flat roof of a 5-storey office building in Camden. The survey found membrane failure, drainage problems and deflection in the roof. The client saved about £15,000. Read our case studies.

Why it’s worth doing now

Flat roofs give little warning. Water sits where the deck has dipped, coverings split at upstands and edges, and leaks can travel a long way under the covering before they show inside. A survey finds those faults while they can still be dealt with, and helps you decide whether a roof needs attention now or can be planned for.

What our survey covers and doesn’t

We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from inside the roof space where there is safe access, from the roof where it is safe, and by drone where applicable. Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey, not a structural engineer’s report and not an asbestos survey, and we can’t see under coverings or inside walls without opening them up. Where a roof may contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before it is disturbed.

What our survey covers

What affects the price

• The size and height of the roof
• How many roofs there are, including extensions, dormers and garages
• How complex the roof is: valleys, parapets, chimneys and different levels
• Access to the roof space and the roof
• The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
• Whether drone inspection or thermal imaging is needed
• For commercial roofs and blocks, the size of the roof and the number of buildings

What to check before booking a roof surveyor

• What the report includes, and when you’ll get it
• Whether photographs are included
• How the roof will be inspected: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• For drone work, a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
• What the survey doesn’t cover
• The price, including VAT

After the survey

Keep outlets and gutters clear, especially in autumn, and keep foot traffic off the roof unless it was designed for it. Use the report to brief roofers on the same list of defects, and plan for the covering’s age as well as the faults we found.