Surrey · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Caterham
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Caterham, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Outlets that hold water back
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Leave it or get it looked at?
Waiting for a stain inside means the water has already got through the layers. We can pick up worn covering and failing details sooner, so you can plan the work rather than react to it. Around Caterham, water from a roof defect often goes unseen for a while, like the loft insulation, the top of a wall or the roof timbers. By the time a stain appears on a ceiling, there’s more to put right.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book us in Caterham
- An independent view of the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
How a flat roof survey works in Caterham
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Built-up felt tends to blister and crack, asphalt crazes and splits, EPDM can lift at its laps, and GRP can crack at board joints and edge trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Once you know the covering and its condition, planning the next step is far easier. We survey upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and single-ply membranes, and people most frequently book us about outlets that hold water back and water getting in at rooflights.
Around Caterham, many garages, porches and extensions have flat roofs of their own. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, so a specialist asbestos surveyor should check before they’re disturbed. Each kind of covering, from felt to rubber and GRP, is checked in its own way. Asbestos testing isn’t part of what we do, though a report may flag materials that could contain it.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Caterham (CR3)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Most visits in a town like Caterham start at the front of the house and work round to the back. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen, so unlocked gates help. Then, if it can be reached safely, we look in the loft.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Book a survey every few years
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Clear leaves and silt from outlets and gutters, above all in autumn. Water that can drain away does far less harm than water that sits.
What we look for on each type of roof
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. The survey checks for crazing, cracking, blistering and splits where the asphalt turns up the walls.
EPDM rubber
An EPDM rubber roof is usually one large sheet, bonded to the deck. We check the laps, the edges, the corners and any punctures.
Caterham questions
Do you cover Caterham?
Yes, Caterham is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Caterham as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Caterham 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.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it is holding up.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs like deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Local flat roofs in Caterham
The wider area around Caterham has a long history of building, with Titsey Place about 4.7 miles 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. In Surrey, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, with tile-hanging on many upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Hillcroft Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. If you live in an older home near Sacred Heart Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. For landlords with property near Caterham station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Caterham is about 11 miles south-west of Orpington, in Surrey. We provide flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Caterham and the surrounding area. Caterham is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work for flat roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
We cover every part of the CR3 postcode area for flat roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, London Road and Park Road and the roads around them. You will find Caterham on the B2030 and B2031, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Caterham: Woldingham Garden Village (2 miles east), Tyler's Green (2 miles south-east), Woldingham (3 miles east), Godstone (3 miles south) and Church Town (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Epsom (8 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles south-west), Redhill (5 miles south-west), Ewell (8 miles north-west), Reigate (6 miles south-west) and Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Caterham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Sunnydown School, The King And Queen Public House and de Stafford School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Caterham station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Bletchingley Castle (3.4 miles south) and East Surrey Museum (0.6 miles south-east). Not far away are South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Mercers Lake.
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Caterham
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
Landlords, agents and block managers in Caterham
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the flat roof, useful for planning maintenance.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.