Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Arkesden
Flat roof surveys across Arkesden, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Outlets that hold water back
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
Flat roof survey in Arkesden: what you get
A flat roof does not shed water the way a pitched roof does. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. If you’ve noticed damaged trims at the roof edge and failed seals around rooflight kerbs, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on GRP fibreglass, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets alike.
Some older homes in villages like Arkesden are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Arkesden (CB11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Book a survey every few years
If you’re buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. You might ask for work to be done before completion, or discuss the price, depending on the findings.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, though quality and upkeep make a big difference. Our report sets out its condition and the areas most at risk.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply PVC and TPO membranes are common on commercial roofs and newer buildings. We check the welded laps, the edges, the fixings and any punctures.
Flat and commercial roofs around Arkesden
In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. The wider area around Arkesden has a long history of building, with Audley End House about 3.5 miles north-east. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Audley End station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Arkesden is about 4 miles south-west of Saffron Walden, in Essex. We carry out flat roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Arkesden. Arkesden is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work for flat roof surveys. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CB11 postcode area for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Clatterbury Lane, Wicken Road and Hampit Road. We also cover the places around Arkesden: Hill Green (1 mile south), Wicken Bonhunt (1 mile south-east), Clavering (2 miles south-west), Starling's Green (2 miles south-west) and Langley (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Harlow (15 miles south), Saffron Walden (4 miles north-east), Great Dunmow (12 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (6 miles south), Newhall (15 miles south) and Elsenham (6 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Arkesden
Typical jobs here are in homes near Axe And Compasses Inn, among other places. Arkesden’s nearest station is Audley End station, roughly 2.3 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Saffron Walden Community Hospital (4.9 miles north-east) and The Warren (4 miles west).
Towns and villages near Arkesden
More services for Arkesden
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Arkesden
How do I find out if my home in Arkesden is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Arkesden within the area you cover?
Yes. Arkesden is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you as you book.
What does a roof survey cost?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: on the roof where it is safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
Our survey does not include asbestos testing. Older buildings, from before 2000, may have asbestos in cement sheets or soffits. We note anything that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check it before it’s disturbed.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks typically begin, and photograph anything that could be letting water in. Where the source is not obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Prices for flat roof surveys in Arkesden
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The shape of the roof and its details
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What to let us know when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- What’s prompted the survey
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a hamlet or village like Arkesden, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Where there is safe access, we look at the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
When to book a survey in Arkesden
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. People usually call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Cracked or split membrane
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Anyone responsible for a site like Joyce Frankland Academy will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see