Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Datchworth, Hertfordshire
Flat roof surveys in Datchworth from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Cracked or split membrane
- Outlets that hold water back
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Somewhere like Datchworth needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Datchworth
A Basic Survey, from £150, covers a visual inspection, a condition report, photos and written recommendations. The Standard Survey, from £250, adds moisture detection and a structural check. On a flat roof, moisture readings can help show whether water has got under the covering. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size. We’re often asked to look into gaps at upstands and abutments and pools of water lying on the roof, across felt flat roofs, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes.
Some older homes in villages like Datchworth are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Datchworth (SG3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Datchworth
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. Older and listed buildings around Datchworth may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
For a price for your roof in Datchworth, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
FAQs for Datchworth
Do you cover Datchworth?
Yes, Datchworth is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Datchworth is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
How do I book a survey in Datchworth?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. We quote bigger roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the address.
Places near Datchworth
Other services in Datchworth
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- House, block, shop or office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- When you need the report by
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where the property is, with the postcode
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Flat roofs in Datchworth
Historic houses such as Aston Bury, about 1.9 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Datchworth goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. If you let a flat or house near Knebworth station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Datchworth is about 4 miles north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. We cover Datchworth and the rest of Hertfordshire. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
All of SG3 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Brookbridge Lane, Nutcroft and Meadow Close, and we cover them all. Other places close to Datchworth include Bull's Green (1 mile south), Woolmer Green (1 mile west), Burnham Green (1 mile south), Hook's Cross (1 mile north-east) and Tewin Wood (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles north), St Albans (10 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (14 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (4 miles south) and Harpenden (8 miles west).
What’s near Datchworth
In Datchworth, that means homes and buildings near The Tilbury pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Datchworth is Knebworth station, roughly 1.6 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Benington Castle (3.5 miles north-east) and Datchworth Museum (less than half a mile south). For a walk, there’s Mardley Heath.
Common roof problems in Datchworth
Flat roofs take the full force of the weather on a surface that drains slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. People usually call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Outlets that hold water back
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Standing water left after rain
If you look after a building like St Michael's Woolmer Green CofE VA Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Before you book anyone
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply relies on its welded laps staying sound. We check seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt has no laps, so its weak points are cracks and the skirtings at walls and upstands. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass