Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Essendon
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Essendon and the rest of Hertfordshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Blocked or damaged outlets
FAQs for Essendon
Do you cover Essendon?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Essendon is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
How do I find out if my home in Essendon is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
What types of flat roof do you survey?
We survey felt and built-up roofs, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply PVC and TPO. Not sure what yours is? We’ll tell you in the report.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The written report follows by email.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. 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.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building 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. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Flat roof survey in Essendon: what you get
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply PVC or TPO roofs are all part of the work. We survey extension, garage and dormer roofs as well as bigger roofs on flats, offices and units. The findings go into a written report with photos, setting out the defects and what we’d recommend. We survey EPDM rubber, single-ply membranes and upstands and outlets, and people most frequently book us about raised blisters across the surface and loose or cracked edge trims.
Some older homes in villages like Essendon are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
Where we can’t see part of the flat roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Essendon (AL9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Flat roofs can’t normally be seen from the street, so they’re often overlooked. Owners often learn the roof is at the end of its life only when it leaks. Regular surveys mean it won’t come as a surprise. Outbuildings and barns around Essendon are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Flat roof surveys in Essendon: local notes
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Historic houses like Hatfield House, about 2.4 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Essendon goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Shop and office owners around Howard Centre may find that a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks. If you look after a building such as Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Essendon is about 3 miles south-east of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. We carry out flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Essendon. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Essendon. We also survey roofs in London.
All of AL9 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Rectory Close, Church Street and School Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include West End (1 mile west), Little Berkhamsted (1 mile south-east), Letty Green (2 miles north-east), East End Green (2 miles north-east) and Bayford (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Watford (13 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (13 miles west), Stevenage (10 miles north), St Albans (8 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles north-east) and Welwyn Garden City (3 miles north-west).
Near you in Essendon
In Essendon, that means homes and buildings near The Salisbury Crest Public House, among other places. The closest station to Essendon is Bayford station, about 2.5 miles east. Nearby you will also find Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (2 miles north-west) and The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station (3.6 miles west). The countryside around Essendon includes Willowmead.
When to book a survey in Essendon
The details are often where a flat roof lets go first. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. If they were rushed when the roof was laid, they’re often the first things to fail.
People normally book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Leaks around rooflights
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Standing water left after rain
If you own a rental within reach of Bayford station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their report turnaround times
- Their track record with similar roofs
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Cottages and farmhouses around Essendon often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- Every part of the roof we can see is checked: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave side gates unlocked
Book a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- 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’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
What affects the price in Essendon
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
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 contact us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.