Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Great Gaddesden
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Great Gaddesden, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
How a flat roof survey works in Great Gaddesden
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: on the roof where it is safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so you know exactly what was covered. Typical surveys look at outlets that hold water back and blisters and bubbles in the covering, across mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets.
In a small place like Great Gaddesden, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, normally 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.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Great Gaddesden (HP1)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Great Gaddesden
Landlords, agents and building managers in Great Gaddesden and across Hertfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Also near Great Gaddesden
What else we do in Great Gaddesden
Useful tips for Great Gaddesden property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
You can use the report to ask roofers to quote for the same work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
Different roofs, different checks
EPDM rubber
An EPDM rubber roof is typically one large sheet, bonded to the deck. The survey looks at laps, edge trims, corners and signs of puncture.
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
What a flat roof survey does not cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
Questions from Great Gaddesden
Do you cover smaller places like Great Gaddesden?
Yes. Great Gaddesden is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How do I find out if my home in Great Gaddesden is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
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.
Do you look in the loft space?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
We check the covering and every detail where leaks commonly start, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source isn’t obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Older rural homes like those around Great Gaddesden can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We check the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. 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. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Flat and commercial roofs around Great Gaddesden
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If you look after a building such as Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. If you let a flat or house near Berkhamsted station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Great Gaddesden is about 3 miles north-west of Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. Wherever you are in Great Gaddesden, we can come and survey your property. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Great Gaddesden and the places around it. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: HP1. Whether your property is on Church Meadow, Piper's Hill and Dagnall Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Nettleden (1 mile south-west), Frithsden (1 mile south-west), Potten End (2 miles south-west), Fields End (2 miles south) and Ashridge (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (10 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (3 miles south-east), St Albans (8 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles east), Harpenden (7 miles east) and Hitchin (15 miles north-east).
What’s near Great Gaddesden
In Great Gaddesden, that means homes and buildings near John F Kennedy Catholic School and The Crown and Sceptre pub, among other places. Great Gaddesden’s nearest station is Berkhamsted station, roughly 3 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Hemel Hempstead Hospital (3.2 miles south-east). Not far away are Landpark Wood.