Essex · London and the South East
Fordham Flat Roof Survey
Need a flat roof survey in Fordham? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Cracked or split membrane
How a flat roof survey works in Fordham
Ponding is frequently the first sign that something on a flat roof isn’t right. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. 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. Common reasons to book are a sagging deck under the covering and standing water left after rain, across EPDM rubber, upstands and outlets and mastic asphalt.
Some older homes in villages like Fordham are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. 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.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Fordham (CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Also near Fordham
Other services in Fordham
Practical tips
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
- Book a survey every few years
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer, the seller or a managing agent. It’s written in plain English, with a photo of each defect, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You will spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
How the survey works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Fordham often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We check the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
What a flat roof survey looks like in Fordham
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask.
Landlords with a home close to Chappel & Wakes Colne station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Fordham is about 5 miles north-west of Colchester, in Essex. We visit Fordham as part of our work across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Fordham is one of the places in Essex we cover. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CO6 is covered for flat roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Church Road, Herring's Way and Sunnyside Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Fordham: Fordham Heath (1 mile south), Gallows Green (1 mile south), Wormingford (2 miles north), West Bergholt (2 miles east) and Little Horkesley (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (11 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Fordham
Around Fordham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Three Horseshoes Public House and the streets around them. Fordham’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, roughly 1.9 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Severalls Hospital (3.9 miles east) and Mount Bures (2.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Fordham includes Sergeants Orchard.
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass
A GRP fibreglass roof is a hard, resin-bonded surface over a timber deck. The survey checks for cracking at board joints, at the edge trims and where the roof meets walls.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. We note any punctures, tears and loose areas we can see.
Common roof problems in Fordham
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It typically comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
For an older house near a landmark like Church of All Saints, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before you book anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- When you will get the report
Why it is worth a survey now in Fordham
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. The report sets out what we found, so you can make that decision with a roofer. In a place like Fordham, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
FAQs for Fordham
Do you cover Fordham?
Yes, Fordham is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Is my home in Fordham listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
We don’t test for asbestos. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, like old cement sheeting, the report flags them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Should I worry about standing water on my flat roof?
Water that lies on a flat roof for days is a sign that something needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. The survey looks at each and records the likely cause.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.