Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Ford End, Essex
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Ford End. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass
A GRP fibreglass roof is a hard, resin-bonded surface over a timber deck. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights, lanterns and upstands are where many flat roof leaks begin. We check the seals and the covering around each one.
Flat roof survey in Ford End
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets 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. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. Common reasons to book are gaps at upstands and abutments and loose or cracked edge trims, across single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and felt flat roofs.
In a small place like Ford End, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. 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 normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Ford End (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Ford End
Is Ford End in the area you cover?
Yes, Ford End is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Ford End as anywhere else.
Will you come out to Ford End?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Ford End?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks typically begin, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source is not obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Flat roof surveys around Ford End
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common 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.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St John the Evangelist, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. Take a building like Ford End Church of England Primary School: schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Ford End is about 6 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. We visit Ford End as part of our work across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. Our Essex coverage includes Ford End. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
All of CM3 is within our area for flat roof surveys. Local streets include Woods Road, Pleshey Road and White Barns, all of which we cover. With the B1008 close by, Ford End is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. Other places close to Ford End include Hartford End (1 mile north-east), North End (1 mile north-west), Pleshey (2 miles south-west), Causeway End (2 miles north) and Howe Street (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (6 miles south), Braintree (7 miles north-east), Harlow (14 miles west), Brentwood (15 miles south), Maldon (13 miles south-east) and Billericay (14 miles south).
Near you in Ford End
Around Ford End, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Butchers Arms Public House. Well-known places in the area include Broomfield Hospital (3.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Ford End include Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are buying, find out about the flat roof before you exchange. After that, the cost of any work is yours. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- An independent look at the roof
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
DIY checks: what’s safe
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Also near Ford End
Other services in Ford End
What a flat roof survey does not cover
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Somewhere as small as Ford End, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It’s useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Check the roof from a window after a downpour. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.