Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Cattawade, Essex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Cattawade, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Raised blisters across the surface
Common questions in Cattawade
Will you come out to Cattawade?
Yes, Cattawade is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is the coastal weather around Cattawade hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Usually, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
How a flat roof survey works in Cattawade
Ponding is often the first sign that something on a flat roof isn’t right. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We’re often asked to look into a sagging deck under the covering and failed upstands where the roof meets a wall, across EPDM rubber, single-ply membranes and felt flat roofs.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Cattawade take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, normally show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
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.
- Location
- Cattawade (CO11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
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.
Flat roofs in Cattawade
Cattawade lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
For landlords with property near Manningtree station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Michael and All Angels, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. Take a building like Brooklands Primary School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Cattawade is in Essex. We visit Cattawade as part of our work across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. Our Essex coverage includes Cattawade and the places around it. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Flat roof surveys in CO11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Temple Pattle, Grimwade Close and Hardy Close. Other places close to Cattawade include Brantham (1 mile north), East End (1 mile north), Manningtree (1 mile south), Lawford (1 mile south) and Mistley (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (8 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (12 miles south), Harwich (9 miles east), Camulodunum (10 miles south-west), Greenstead (7 miles south-west) and Wivenhoe (8 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Cattawade
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Ark pub and Manningtree High School. The closest station to Cattawade is Manningtree station, roughly 1 mile south-west. Nearby you will also find Little Wenham Castle (3.8 miles north) and The Munnings Museum (2.9 miles west). For a walk, there is Cattawade Marshes and Alton Water.
Towns and villages near Cattawade
What else we do in Cattawade
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply relies on its welded laps staying sound. We check seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
What happens on the day
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Cattawade can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking near the property
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
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Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Book a survey every few years
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the covering, its condition and every defect, and what we recommend. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys normally lasts longer.
What we cannot see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Cattawade
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets