Greater London · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Cranham
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings across Cranham, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
Flat roof survey in Cranham: what you get
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. If the deck itself looks like a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We survey single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass, and common reasons people get in touch are water getting in at rooflights and dips that suggest the deck is deflecting.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. Coverings range from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes, and each fails in its own way. In Cranham, as anywhere in London, the right approach depends on what the roof is made of. Older flat roofs are frequently felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Cranham (RM14)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Cranham questions
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Cranham?
Parking in Cranham, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot, so mention what’s available as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cranham?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Ponding is worth looking into. It often means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and it wears the covering faster. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
We don’t give a fixed number of years, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The written report follows by email.
Also near Cranham
What else we do in Cranham
Flat and commercial roofs around Cranham
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. Hare Hall, about 3 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Cranham. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
For a London address like Cranham, it is useful to know about controlled parking before the day. Shop and office owners around The Mercury Mall may find that outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts.
Cranham is about 2 miles east of Hornchurch, in Greater London. Cranham gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Across Greater London, we cover Cranham. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RM14. Streets in the area include Avon Road, Moor Lane and Front Lane. We also cover the places around Cranham: Upminster (1 mile west), Puddle Dock (1 mile east), Upminster Bridge (1 mile west), North Ockendon (2 miles south-east) and Emerson Park (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Shoreditch (15 miles west), Walthamstow (13 miles west), Hoxton (15 miles west), Whitechapel (15 miles west), Orpington (14 miles south-west) and Plaistow (11 miles west).
Local landmarks in Cranham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The James Oglethorpe Primary School, The Crumpled Horn pub and St. Andrew's Park. For rail, the closest station is Upminster station, roughly 0.7 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find The Mercury Mall (3.7 miles west) and Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia (0.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Cranham includes Cranham Brickfields.
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
You can use the report to ask roofers to quote for the same work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
When to book a survey in Cranham
No flat roof covering lasts for ever. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM frequently 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, although how well it was laid and looked after matters a great deal. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
For an older house near a landmark like St Luke's Cranham, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What happens after the report arrives
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber
EPDM frequently lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. Those details are where we focus.
GRP fibreglass
A well-laid GRP roof often lasts up to about 30 years. Hairline cracks over board joints are an early warning we look out for.
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know as you book.
- 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.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.