Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Earls Colne, Essex
Flat roof surveys in Earls Colne, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Earls Colne
A flat roof does not shed water the way a pitched roof does. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We survey GRP fibreglass, single-ply membranes and mastic asphalt, and the problems we are asked to look at most are a sagging deck under the covering and loose or cracked edge trims.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Earls Colne can be more exposed, especially where nothing shelters them, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Earls Colne (CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the covering, its condition and every defect, and what we recommend. Turnaround is within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, 24 to 48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
What this survey cannot tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Earls Colne, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- 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.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Questions from Earls Colne
Do you carry out roof surveys in Earls Colne?
Yes, Earls Colne is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Earls Colne as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Earls Colne?
Yes, Earls Colne is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks usually begin, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source isn’t obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
When does the report arrive?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us when you book.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The written report follows by email.
Places near Earls Colne
More services for Earls Colne
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
Felt and built-up roofs
On felt, the upstands and edge details often fail before the main surface. Every upstand and edge is looked at, with photos of any that have lifted or cracked.
What affects the price in Earls Colne
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
- Roof area
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- When you need the report by
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Flat roof surveys in Earls Colne: local notes
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
The streets around a church like Parish Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. Take a building like Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For landlords with property near Chappel & Wakes Colne station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Earls Colne is about 3 miles east of Halstead, in Essex. Earls Colne gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our Essex coverage includes Earls Colne and the places around it. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: CO6. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on High Street, Station Road and Foundry Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Earls Colne include Colne Engaine (1 mile north), Greenstead Green (2 miles west), Halstead (3 miles west), Pebmarsh (3 miles north) and Little Maplestead (4 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (9 miles east), Braintree (7 miles south-west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (9 miles south), Camulodunum (8 miles east) and Great Dunmow (15 miles west).
Around Earls Colne
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Lion Public House and Brickfield and Long Meadow. The nearest railway station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, about 2.6 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Halstead Hospital (2.9 miles north-west) and Mount Bures (3.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.