Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Downend, Isle of Wight
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Downend, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Splits and cracks in the covering
FAQs for Downend
How do I find out if my home in Downend 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.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Downend?
Often, yes. Downend is within about 5 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take an hour or two on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The written report follows by email.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Commercial and residential flat roofs are both covered. Expect about 3 to 4 hours on site for most commercial roofs, and larger roofs are quoted for their size.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
We don’t test for asbestos. If we see materials that could contain it, such as cement sheets on a building from before 2000, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
About our flat roof survey in Downend
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: on the roof where it’s safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. If part of the roof can’t be seen or reached safely, the report says so, so the limits of the survey are clear. We’re frequently asked to look into loose or cracked edge trims and outlets that hold water back, across felt flat roofs, upstands and outlets and single-ply membranes.
Somewhere as small as Downend, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. We simply plan the journey and access in advance. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Downend (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat and commercial roofs around Downend
Downend is within about 5 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Some villages on the Isle of Wight still have thatched roofs, and nowhere on the island is far from the sea. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you own a rental within reach of Smallbrook Junction station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Historic houses like Arreton Manor, about 0.8 miles south, show how far back building around Downend goes. Older homes nearby may have later flat-roofed extensions or dormers, often re-covered more than once. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Medina College, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Downend is about 2 miles east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We visit Downend as part of our work across the Isle of Wight, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Downend is one of the places in the Isle of Wight we cover for flat roof surveys. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Surveys in PO30 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Briddlesford Road and Long Lane or a nearby road, we can help. If you’re just outside Downend, we cover Arreton (1 mile south), Merstone (2 miles south), Blackwater (2 miles south-west), Shide (2 miles west) and Newchurch (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Ryde (4 miles north-east), Cowes (5 miles north-west), Sandown (4 miles south-east), Shanklin (5 miles south-east), Ventnor (7 miles south) and East Cowes (5 miles north). If you’re somewhere remote, a little more planning is needed, so let us know when you contact us.
What’s near Downend
We work in homes and buildings around The White Lion pub, among other places. The closest station to Downend is Smallbrook Junction station, about 4.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Carisbrooke Castle (3 miles west) and Whitecroft Hospital (2.7 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Brading Down and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
Also in Downend
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
- The shape of the roof and its details
For a price for your roof in Downend, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Older rural homes like those around Downend can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there’s access.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
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What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Downend
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP can crack if the deck beneath flexes or if the resin was laid too thin. We record any cracking and any signs of the deck moving.
EPDM rubber
EPDM frequently lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. We look closely at each of those details.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Book a survey every few years
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Downend
Landlords, agents and building managers in Downend and across the Isle of Wight can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.