Essex · London and the South East
Great Totham Flat Roof Survey
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Great Totham, with photographs and a written report.
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits and cracks in the covering
How a flat roof survey works in Great Totham
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. For moisture detection and a structural check, the Standard Survey starts from £250. On a flat roof, moisture readings can help show whether water has got under the covering. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. Typical surveys look at pools of water lying on the roof and edge trims that have lifted or split, on single-ply membranes, GRP fibreglass and upstands and outlets.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Great Totham can be more exposed, especially where nothing shelters them, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Great Totham (CM9)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Great Totham
Buyers often book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Building owners and managing agents book to plan maintenance, or before a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photos.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Landlords with a home close to Witham station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Before you book anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will the report include photos?
- How long the report takes to arrive
What happens on the day
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey usually takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. A visit to a smaller place like Great Totham is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is access.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Before the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Book a survey
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Related advice
What we can’t see
A survey is a proper look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
Great Totham: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Great Totham?
Yes, Great Totham is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Great Totham?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
What’s in the report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The written report follows by email.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer, the seller or a managing agent. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so others can follow it without going up to look.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. Prompt repairs tend to add years to a flat roof.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Caught early, a split or open seam in a flat roof is often a small repair. Left alone, water can soak the insulation and the deck, and the job grows. Surveying it now tells you where you stand. Homes in smaller places like Great Totham can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- A written report with photos
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.
Mastic asphalt
Older asphalt can become brittle and crack as the roof moves. We note where this is happening and how widespread it looks.
Also near Great Totham
Other services in Great Totham
Flat roofs in Great Totham
Great Totham is within about 4 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
If you look after a building such as Great Totham Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Great Totham is about 3 miles south-east of Witham, in Essex. We carry out flat roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Great Totham and nearby. Great Totham is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We cover every part of the CM9 postcode area for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Heriot Way, Maldon Road and Staplers Close or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover Beacon Hill (1 mile north), Wickham Bishops (1 mile north-west), Broad Street Green (1 mile south), Great Braxted (2 miles north) and Langford (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (12 miles north-east), Chelmsford (9 miles west), Braintree (9 miles north-west), Maldon (3 miles south), Billericay (15 miles south-west) and Rayleigh (13 miles south).
Near you in Great Totham
In Great Totham, that means homes and buildings near The Bull Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Witham station, roughly 3.1 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Maldon & District Agricultural & Domestic Museum (3.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Shut Heath Wood.