Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Cressing, Essex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Cressing, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cressing
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply PVC or TPO roofs are all part of the work. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. The findings go into a written report with photos, setting out the defects and what we’d recommend. Common reasons to book are edge trims that have lifted or split and outlets that hold water back, across GRP fibreglass, upstands and outlets and single-ply membranes.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Cressing 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, typically show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
The report records the flat roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Cressing (CM77)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Cressing
Landlords and letting agents in Cressing book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Standing water on a flat roof rarely sorts itself out. Most often it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and each wet season wears the covering further. Finding the cause now keeps more options open. In a place like Cressing, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Photos and a written report every time
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Somewhere like Cressing needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- 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. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
Also near Cressing
More services for Cressing
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Flat roof surveys in Cressing: local notes
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Anyone responsible for a site like Cressing Primary School will know that a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. The streets around a church like Parish Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Cressing is about 2 miles south-east of Braintree, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Cressing, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Essex. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: CM77. Streets in the area include The Street, Church Road and Ashes Road. Other places close to Cressing include Lanham Green (1 mile north-east), Perry Green (1 mile north-east), Silver End (1 mile south-east), Bradwell (1 mile north-east) and Faulkbourne (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (13 miles east), Chelmsford (10 miles south-west), Maldon (10 miles south), Witham (4 miles south), Camulodunum (12 miles east) and Halstead (6 miles north).
Landmarks near Cressing
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Three Ashes pub and Alec Hunter Academy, among other places. The nearest railway station is Cressing station, about 1.1 miles south-west. A little further out are William Julien Courtauld Hospital (2.7 miles north-west) and Cressing Temple (1.5 miles south). Not far away are Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Cressing: your questions answered
Is my home in Cressing listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover smaller places like Cressing?
Yes, Cressing is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
Our survey does not include asbestos testing. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos, for example in cement roof sheets. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
Where it’s safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. If not, we use safe viewpoints and look inside, and the report says if any part couldn’t be seen. Fragile surfaces are never walked on.
What we are asked to look at in Cressing
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. People normally call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Standing water left after rain
- Outlets that hold water back
If you own a rental within reach of Cressing station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Are they insured for the work?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA