Greater London · London and the South East
Barnet Flat Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof before you spend money on it. We carry out flat roof surveys in Barnet.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Leaks around rooflights
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Flat and commercial roofs around Barnet
Wyllyotts Manor, about 3.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Barnet. On older houses around here, roofs often 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. Outer London has lots of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Anyone responsible for a site like Grasvenor Avenue Infant School will know that a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Parking in Barnet, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised.
Barnet is about 9 miles east of Watford, in Greater London. Whether the building in Barnet is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
All of EN5, EN4, N20 and N11 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Station Road, High Street and Sambroke Square or a nearby road, we can help. You’ll find Barnet on the B193 and A1081, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover Underhill (1 mile west), New Barnet (1 mile east), Monken Hadley (1 mile north-west), Hadley Wood (1 mile north-east) and Cockfosters (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (11 miles south), City of Westminster (9 miles south), Marylebone (9 miles south), Kensington (10 miles south), St Pancras (9 miles south) and Shoreditch (10 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Barnet
We work in homes and buildings around Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School, The Railway Tavern and Highlands Gardens and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is New Barnet station, roughly 0.6 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Barnet General Hospital (1.2 miles west) and Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum (2.1 miles south). Open spaces near Barnet include Darland's Lake and Greenhill Gardens.
How a flat roof survey works in Barnet
Ponding is often the first sign that something on a flat roof is not right. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. If the deck itself looks like a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We’re often asked to look into dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and blocked or damaged outlets, on single-ply membranes, mastic asphalt and felt flat roofs.
Across London, flat roofs are everywhere, from back additions and dormers to roof terraces, blocks of flats and offices. Coverings range from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes, and each fails in its own way. Which one is on a roof in Barnet shapes how it is checked. Older flat roofs are often felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Barnet (EN5, EN4, N20, N11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
How the survey works
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a visit in Barnet, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
How to prepare
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Book a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Roof by roof
EPDM rubber
EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. Those details are where we focus.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply relies on its welded laps staying sound. We look at seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
FAQs for Barnet
Is parking a problem for a survey in Barnet?
It rarely stops a survey, but it is worth planning. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
How do I find out if my home in Barnet is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. It’s a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Do you cover Barnet for flat roof surveys?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes Barnet.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks usually begin, recording anything that could let water through. If the source is hidden, we may suggest a leak investigation or electronic leak detection.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us as you book.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Barnet
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Towns and villages near Barnet
Other services in Barnet
Common roof problems in Barnet
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM frequently 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, although how well it was laid and looked after matters a great deal. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Cracked or split membrane
For landlords with property near New Barnet station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Useful tips for Barnet property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It’s useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
Small defects are simpler to deal with while they’re still small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys typically lasts longer.