Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Eastwick
Flat roof surveys in Eastwick from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
Flat roof survey in Eastwick
If the house you’re buying has a flat roof on an extension, dormer or garage, it’s worth knowing its condition before exchange. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM and GRP frequently last longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with photos of each. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. Typical surveys look at cracked or split membrane and ponding water that doesn’t drain away, across upstands and outlets, single-ply membranes and EPDM rubber.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Eastwick take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Eastwick (CM20)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a flat roof survey looks like in Eastwick
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. Harlow, which Eastwick is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. Many of those flat roofs have been re-covered over the years, and some may still have older felt. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, so a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them before they’re disturbed.
If you own a rental within reach of Harlow Town station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Botolph, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. If you look after a building like Pemberley Academy, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Eastwick is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. We cover Eastwick and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Essex coverage includes Eastwick and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Surveys in CM20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Little Parndon (1 mile south), Gilston (1 mile north-east), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Roydon (2 miles south-west) and Staple Tye (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south), Waltham Abbey (7 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
What’s near Eastwick
In Eastwick, that means homes and buildings near Burnt Mill Academy, Harlow Marsh and The Lion Inn, among other places. Eastwick’s nearest station is Harlow Town station, about 0.5 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Princess Alexandra Hospital (0.9 miles south) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.8 miles east). Open spaces near Eastwick include Hunsdon Mead.
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about one to two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a village or hamlet like Eastwick, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We check the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Every part of the roof we can see is checked: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
For a price for flat roof surveys in Eastwick, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Eastwick questions
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Eastwick worth including?
It’s often worth it, as these roofs are easy to forget. On buildings from before 2000, cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos and should be checked by a specialist asbestos surveyor before anyone disturbs them.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Eastwick?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
We do not put a figure on it. As a guide, felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM frequently 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30, but the report tells you how your roof is really doing.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Checking the roof from the ground
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Book a survey every few years
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
When you need someone else
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
Places near Eastwick
What else we do in Eastwick
Why get it checked now?
Flat roofs can’t typically be seen from the street, so they’re often overlooked. Owners frequently learn the roof is at the end of its life only when it leaks. Regular surveys mean it won’t come as a surprise. In a small place like Eastwick, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Eastwick
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.