Greater London · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Downham, Greater London
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Downham, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Outlets that hold water back
Flat roof survey in Downham: what you get
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can safely be seen: 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. If you’ve noticed blistering in felt or asphalt and upstands pulling away from walls, we can find out what’s behind it, on GRP fibreglass, mastic asphalt and EPDM rubber alike.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. They’re covered in felt, asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass or single-ply membranes, and each fails in its own way. Which one is on a roof in Downham shapes how it is checked. Older flat roofs are frequently felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
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.
- Where
- Downham (BR1, SE6, SE12)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
It is useful to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
Flat roofs in Downham
Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. Bromley Palace, about 1.7 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Downham. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Landlords with a home close to Grove Park station may find that flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. If you look after a building like Rangefield Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Downham is about 2 miles north of Bromley, in Greater London. If you are in Downham, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Greater London, we cover Downham. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of BR1, SE6 and SE12 for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Shaw Road, Arcus Road and Brook Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Downham include Plaistow (1 mile south), Grove Park (1 mile north-east), Sundridge (1 mile south-east), Chinbrook (1 mile east) and Bellingham (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns like London (7 miles north-west), City of Westminster (9 miles north-west), Marylebone (9 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (8 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Downham
We work in homes and buildings around Holy Trinity College Bromley, Downham Fields and Bonus Pastor Catholic College and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Grove Park station, roughly 0.8 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include The Glades (1.6 miles south) and Greenwich Castle (3.6 miles north). The countryside around Downham includes Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
What affects the price in Downham
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Roof area
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Which survey package you book
For a price for your roof in Downham, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
What we need to know
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. It is enough to tell us:
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- What kind of property and roof it is
- When you need the report by
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Places near Downham
More services for Downham
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
Buyers can take the findings back to the seller or the agent. You might ask for work to be done before completion, or discuss the price, depending on the findings.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
Common roof problems in Downham
The surface of a flat roof heats up and cools down far more than the rooms below. That movement pulls at seams, laps and the joints between boards, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Coverings that have hardened with age tend to suffer most.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
If you live in an older home near St Barnabas, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their report turnaround times
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the flat roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes an hour or two for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In Downham, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- 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.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Downham
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Downham
How do I find out if my home in Downham is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Downham?
Normally it’s manageable with a little notice. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take between one and two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. The written report follows by email.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Downham?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do you work in Downham?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Downham.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.