Greater London · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in East Ham, Greater London
Flat roof surveys in East Ham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in East Ham
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. Moisture readings are useful on flat roofs, where water can spread under the covering before it shows inside. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size. If you’ve noticed blistering in felt or asphalt and outlets that hold water back, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Across London, flat roofs are everywhere, from back additions and dormers to roof terraces, blocks of flats 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 East Ham shapes how it is checked. Many older flat roofs are felt or asphalt, and many newer ones EPDM rubber or GRP.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- East Ham (E6, IG11, E13, E12)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a flat roof survey in East Ham?
Flat roofs swing between hot and cold more than most parts of a building. This constant movement works at laps, seams and board joints, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Outlets that hold water back
If you let a flat or house near Barking station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- When you will get the report
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
Flat roofs in East Ham
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. Historic houses like Eastbury Manor House, about 1.9 miles east, show how far back building in the area around East Ham goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
East Ham is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway as you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Michael's Catholic Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
East Ham is about 5 miles south-east of Walthamstow, in Greater London. We carry out flat roof surveys in East Ham for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. East Ham is one of the places in Greater London we cover. There’s also a page for London.
All of E6, IG11, E13 and E12 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include High Street South, Market Street and High Street North. East Ham is on the A13 and A117, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around East Ham: Wallend (1 mile north-east), Upton Park (1 mile west), Plashet (1 mile north), Beckton (1 mile south-east) and Greengate (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover London (7 miles west), City of Westminster (9 miles west), Marylebone (9 miles west), Kensington (11 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (6 miles west).
Landmarks near East Ham
In East Ham, that means homes and buildings near The Miller's Well pub, Beckton District Park and The Service for Deaf and Partially Hearing Children. East Ham’s nearest station is Barking station, about 1.3 miles north-east. A little further out are Greenwich Castle (4.3 miles south-west) and Gallions Reach Shopping Park (1.6 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Ripple Nature Reserve and Hollow Pond.
FAQs for East Ham
Is East Ham in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Ham?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
There is no honest way to give an exact number of years. Typical ranges are around 15 to 20 years for felt, 30 to 50 for EPDM and up to about 30 for GRP, but the report tells you how your roof is really doing.
Will you walk on the flat roof?
Where it is safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. If not, we use safe viewpoints and look inside, and the report says if any part couldn’t be seen. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
Checking the roof from the ground
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How we price flat roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Which survey package you book
- Roof area
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Why act early in East Ham
Ponding seldom gets better on its own. Most often it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and every wet spell adds to the wear. Knowing the cause early gives you more choice over what to do. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in East Ham
- 98% customer satisfaction
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
What a flat roof survey does not cover
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in East Ham
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
How it works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in East Ham moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.