Greater London · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Bow, Greater London
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out flat roof surveys in Bow, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Flat roof survey in Bow
Offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats frequently sit under large flat roofs. On a roof like this, a survey shows where the covering is wearing, where water is ponding and which outlets need attention. We record the condition with photos so work can be planned and budgeted. We quote commercial roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so please call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and an idea of the roof’s size. Common reasons to book are failed seals around rooflight kerbs and dips that suggest the deck is deflecting, on upstands and outlets, single-ply membranes and GRP fibreglass.
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 Bow shapes how it’s checked. Older flat roofs are often felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Bow (E3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat and commercial roofs around Bow
Bow has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half. For hotels and other commercial buildings, finding the cause of a flat roof leak quickly keeps rooms in use. Sutton House, about 1.6 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Bow. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you run a business near Westfield Stratford City, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after. If you run a hotel or guest house in or near Bow, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Bow is about 1 mile south-east of Hackney, in Greater London. We carry out flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Bow and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
Every address in E3 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Trellis Square, Sheffield Square and Bromley High Street. With the B142 close by, Bow is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. Other places close to Bow include Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile north), Old Ford (1 mile north-east), Mile End (1 mile south), Fish Island (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (5 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
Local landmarks in Bow
In Bow, that means homes and buildings near Lord Tredegar Public House, Grove Hall Park and Mulberry UTC. Bow’s nearest station is Hackney Wick station, roughly 0.9 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include V&A East (0.9 miles north-east) and St Clement's Hospital (under half a mile south). Green spaces nearby include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey typically takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In Bow, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without 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 as you book.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- 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.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
For a price for flat roof surveys in Bow, ring 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Bow: your questions answered
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Bow?
Parking in Bow, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly.
Is my home in Bow listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
We don’t give a fixed number of years, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
Why act early in Bow
Most flat roofs are out of sight, so they’re easy to forget. Owners often learn the roof is at the end of its life only when it leaks. Regular surveys mean it won’t come as a surprise. Any roof job in Bow means planning around parking, neighbours and access. That’s a good reason to find problems early, while there is time to plan.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why us?
- Surveys seven days a week
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. If water is still there a day or two later, have it checked.
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. The survey checks for cracking at board joints, at the edge trims and where the roof meets walls.
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Nearby places to Bow
What else we do in Bow
When to book a survey in Bow
Water that does not drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It normally 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.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked or split membrane
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone