Essex · London and the South East
Chigwell Row Flat Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the flat roof at your property in Chigwell Row, with photographs and a written report.
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Leaks around rooflights
- Ponding water that does not drain away
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chigwell Row
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. Knowing what you have and how it is doing helps you plan what comes next. If you’ve noticed a sagging deck under the covering and leaks around rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Chigwell Row 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Chigwell Row (IG7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Somewhere as small as Chigwell Row, access is frequently the only tricky part. 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.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
EPDM rubber
An EPDM rubber roof is typically one large sheet, bonded to the deck. We check the laps, the edges, the corners and any punctures.
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. We view them from safe positions and photograph what we see.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Chigwell Row. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Flat roofs in Chigwell Row
Valentines Mansion, about 3.9 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chigwell Row. 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, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Chadwell Heath station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. For businesses in and around places such as Romford Shopping Hall, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Chigwell Row is about 3 miles south-east of Loughton, in Essex. If you’re in Chigwell Row, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in London.
Flat roof surveys in IG7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as All Saints Close, Romford Road and Lambourne Road, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Lambourne End (1 mile north-east), Redbridge (1 mile south-east), Lambourne (2 miles north-east), Abridge (2 miles north) and Stapleford Abbotts (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Basildon (15 miles east), Harlow (10 miles north), Brentwood (8 miles east), Billericay (13 miles east), Loughton (3 miles north-west) and Waltham Abbey (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Chigwell Row
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Forest Academy and Chigwell Row Wood and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Chadwell Heath station, roughly 3.6 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Romford Shopping Hall (4 miles south-east) and Claybury Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Lippitts Hill and Highams Park Lake.
Places near Chigwell Row
What else we do in Chigwell Row
What we’re asked to look at in Chigwell Row
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. Most people book a survey after a leak, before buying, or when they think the roof is getting old.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked or split membrane
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Loose or cracked edge trims
Take an older house close to All Saints 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.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What happens after the report arrives
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What happens if roof problems are left?
By the time a flat roof leak shows indoors, water has already passed through the roof build-up. We can pick up worn covering and failing details sooner, so you can plan the work rather than react to it. For older village homes like those around Chigwell Row, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chigwell Row
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Surveys seven days a week
- 98% of customers satisfied
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Questions from Chigwell Row
How do I find out if my home in Chigwell Row is listed?
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.
Is Chigwell Row within the area you cover?
Yes, Chigwell Row is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Asbestos testing is not part of our survey. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, such as old cement sheeting, the report flags them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
What types of flat roof do you survey?
Felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes are all part of the work. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.