Greater London · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Bankside, Greater London
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings across Bankside, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
What happens on the day
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when booking.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
About our flat roof survey in Bankside
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photographs and written recommendations. The Standard Survey, from £250, adds moisture detection and a structural check. Moisture readings are useful on flat roofs, where water can spread under the covering before it shows inside. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. We survey felt flat roofs, upstands and outlets and GRP fibreglass, and people most often book us about ponding water that doesn’t drain away and gaps at upstands and abutments.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. They’re covered in felt, asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass or single-ply membranes, and each fails in its own way. Which one is on a roof in Bankside shapes how it’s checked. Older flat roofs are often felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the flat roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Bankside (SE1, EC4Y, EC4V)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Bankside
What else we do in Bankside
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Bankside
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
Useful tips for Bankside property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Turnaround is within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, 24 to 48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
Flat roof surveys around Bankside
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. There are several hotels within about a mile and a half of Bankside. For hotels and other commercial buildings, finding the cause of a flat roof leak quickly keeps rooms in use.
Anyone responsible for a site like London Nautical School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. Hotels and guest houses near Bankside can’t easily close rooms for a leak, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Bankside is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. If you’re in Bankside, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Across Greater London, we cover Bankside.
Every address in SE1, EC4Y and EC4V is covered for flat roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Bear Lane, Bush Lane and Swan Lane, all of which we cover. Bankside is on the A201 and A300, so it’s easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Blackfriars (1 mile north-west), Temple (1 mile north-west), Temple Bar (1 mile north-west), Waterloo (1 mile south-west) and Smithfield (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles west) and Stockwell (3 miles south).
What’s near Bankside
In Bankside, that means homes and buildings near St Mary-at-Hill, Bernie Spain Gardens and St Andrew's and St John's Church of England Primary School and the streets around them. Other local landmarks include Barts Health Archives (0.6 miles north), The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overy (0.5 miles south-east) and Founders Arms (less than half a mile west). There’s a railway station in Bankside itself: London Blackfriars station. Nearby you’ll also find Royal Waterloo Hospital for Children and Women (0.6 miles west) and Gabriel's Wharf (under half a mile west). For a walk, there’s Ludgate Hill and Barnsbury Wood.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Bankside: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for a survey in Bankside?
It can be, so it helps to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bankside?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
What’s the best way to book?
Simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
We check the whole roof, since water can travel before it shows inside. Splits, open laps, upstands, outlets and rooflights are all checked. If the cause can’t be seen, we will say so and suggest what would help.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. It’s a survey of the flat roof. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
When to book a survey in Bankside
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It typically comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Leaks around rooflights
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
Take an older house close to St Mary Mounthaw: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Different roofs, different checks
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights, lanterns and upstands are where many flat roof leaks begin. We check how the covering is finished around each rooflight and upstand.
Single-ply membranes
Many offices, units and newer flats have a single-ply PVC or TPO roof. We check the welded laps, the edges, the fixings and any punctures.