Essex · London and the South East
Bures Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings across Bures, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Leaks around rooflights
- Loose or cracked edge trims
What we are asked to look at in Bures
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. Over the years, coverings harden, crack and start to come away at the edges. Most people book a survey after a leak, before buying, or when they think the roof is getting old.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Outlets that hold water back
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Their report turnaround times
- What exactly goes into their report
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Flat roof survey in Bures
A flat roof doesn’t shed water the way a pitched roof does. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, 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. We survey upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and single-ply membranes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are blocked or damaged outlets and splits, cracks and crazing.
Somewhere as small as Bures, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Bures (CO8)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Bures: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Bures?
Yes, Bures is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Bures as anywhere else.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bures?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.
Do you survey commercial flat roofs?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. We quote bigger roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs like deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS 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 is not a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Honest limits
It is a careful look at the flat roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- An exact number of years the roof has left
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Bures
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
What affects the price in Bures
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Height and safe access
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The roof’s overall size
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
For a price for flat roof surveys in Bures, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Roof by roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Many extensions, garages and dormers have a felt roof laid in layers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.
Rooflights and upstands
We do not walk on rooflights or fragile sheeting, and we treat older rooflights as fragile. They’re inspected from safe positions and recorded with photographs.
Flat roof surveys in Bures: local notes
In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. With Gainsborough's House about 5 miles north-west, Bures sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. For landlords with property near Bures station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Bures is in Essex. In Bures, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Bures is one of the places in Essex where we work for flat roof surveys. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
All of CO8 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Church Square, High Street and Bridge Street, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Bures Green (1 mile north-east), Mount Bures (1 mile south), Lamarsh (1 mile north-west), Alphamstone (2 miles north-west) and Cross End (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (8 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles south-west), Camulodunum (7 miles south-east), Halstead (6 miles west) and Greenstead (9 miles south-east).
What’s near Bures
We work in homes and buildings around Tiger Hill and Three Horseshoes Inn. There’s a railway station in Bures itself: Bures station. Well-known places in the area include Mount Bures (0.9 miles south). The countryside around Bures includes Sergeants Orchard.
Also near Bures
What else we do in Bures
What we do, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a small place like Bures, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Check pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.