Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Emmington, Oxfordshire
Flat roof surveys across Emmington, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
Flat roof survey in Emmington: what you get
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We’re often asked to look into failed seals around rooflight kerbs and edge trims that have lifted or split, on felt flat roofs, EPDM rubber and single-ply membranes.
In a small place like Emmington, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Emmington (OX39)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Emmington
Do you cover Emmington?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Emmington 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.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
A precise figure is not 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.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats. We quote bigger roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the address.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. Any we find are noted and photographed.
GRP fibreglass
Movement in the deck or a thin layer of resin can lead to cracks in GRP. Our report notes cracks and any sign that the deck is flexing.
What we do, step by step
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Emmington often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- 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 is 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Flat and commercial roofs around Emmington
Historic houses like Adwell House, about 3 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Emmington goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Nicholas, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. If you own a rental within reach of Princes Risborough station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Anyone responsible for a site like Mill Lane Community Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Emmington is about 3 miles south-east of Thame, in Oxfordshire. In Emmington, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. Oxford is in our area too.
Here we cover the OX39 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Other places close to Emmington include Sydenham (1 mile south-west), Kingston Stert (1 mile south-west), Chinnor (1 mile south-east), Towersey (2 miles north) and Thame (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (13 miles west), Didcot (15 miles south-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles west), Henley-on-Thames (13 miles south), Benson (10 miles south-west) and Headington Quarry (12 miles west).
Near you in Emmington
In Emmington, that means homes and buildings near The Inn at Emmington, among other places. The closest station to Emmington is Princes Risborough station, about 3.8 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find Thame Museum (3.1 miles north-west) and Thame Community Hospital (2.6 miles north-west). Open spaces near Emmington include Bald Hill and Oakley Hill nature reserve.
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Emmington
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
Landlords, agents and block managers in Emmington
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents and landlords in Emmington book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
What else we do in Emmington
Why it is worth a survey now in Emmington
A survey can show whether a whole new roof is needed or whether the problems are in a few places. At times the trouble is a handful of failed details, and at times the whole covering is worn. Our report gives you the evidence to discuss with a roofer. For an older or listed building in a place like Emmington, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book us in Emmington
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photos and a written report every time
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.