Surrey · London and the South East
Downside Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys in Downside from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Standing water left after rain
How a flat roof survey works in Downside
Offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats frequently sit under large flat roofs. On a roof like this, a survey shows where the covering is wearing, where water is ponding and which outlets need attention. The photographed record helps you plan and budget for work. Commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so please ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and an idea of the roof’s size. We survey felt flat roofs, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets, and the problems we are asked to look at most are dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and blistering in felt or asphalt.
In a small place like Downside, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, usually show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Downside (KT11)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Somewhere like Downside needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Do you need a flat roof survey in Downside?
A buyer’s general survey frequently recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. In each case, the report gives a written, photographed record of the roof’s condition.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
If you look after a building such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Their insurance cover
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Downside questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Downside?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Downside within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us when booking.
How much does a flat roof survey cost in Downside?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. It often sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
When you need someone else
It is useful to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Downside
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
Towns and villages near Downside
Also in Downside
Local flat roofs in Downside
The wider area around Downside has a long history of building, with Byfleet Manor about 2.7 miles north-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older houses across Surrey frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you live in an older home near St Michael's Chapel, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. For landlords with property near Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. We survey roofs in Downside as part of our work across London and the South East. Downside is one of the places in Surrey we cover for flat roof surveys. Our Guildford page covers surveys nearby.
We work across the KT11 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Local streets include Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Downside, we cover Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Around Downside
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Plough Public House and Parkside School. Downside’s nearest station is Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, roughly 1 mile north-east. Well-known places in the area include Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). For a walk, there is Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Useful tips for Downside property owners
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
For landlords and building managers, the report is a dated record of the roof’s condition. It helps when planning maintenance budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
Roof by roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.
Rooflights and upstands
The joins around rooflights and at upstands are common leak points. We check how the covering is finished around each rooflight and upstand.