Greater London · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Hackney, Greater London
Know where you stand with the flat roof before you spend money on it. We carry out flat roof surveys in Hackney.
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Flat roof survey in Hackney
Offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats often sit under large flat roofs. On a roof like this, a survey shows where the covering is wearing, where water is ponding and which outlets need attention. The photographed record helps you plan and budget for work. We quote commercial roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so it helps if you ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a rough idea of the roof area. If you are worried about outlets that hold water back and edge trims that have lifted or split, we can find out what’s behind it, on upstands and outlets, felt flat roofs and mastic asphalt alike.
Commercial and residential blocks across London often have big flat roofs with plant, rooflights and access walkways. Each pipe, upstand and fixing through the covering is a possible weak point. For a building in Hackney, access is agreed with whoever manages the roof ahead of the visit. Rooflights, plant supports and pipe entries are common places for a membrane to fail.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Hackney (E9, E8, E3, E5)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The size of the roof
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
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.
Hackney: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hackney?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Hackney?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
What happens next?
You will get the report 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.
Do you look in the roof space?
Normally, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it’s holding up.
How long will you be at the property?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys 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.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Hackney
Historic houses such as Sutton House, about 0.3 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Hackney goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Within a mile and a half or so of Hackney there are several hotels. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Luke, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start. For hotels and guest houses around Hackney, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Hackney is about 4 miles north-east of London, in Greater London. We cover Hackney and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Greater London, we cover Hackney and the places around it.
We cover every part of the E9, E8, E3 and E5 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Whether your property is on Homerton High Street, Primrose Square and St John's Church Road or a nearby road, we can help. Being close to the A107 and B113, Hackney is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. We also cover the places around Hackney: Homerton (1 mile north), Lower Clapton (1 mile north), Hackney Central (1 mile west), London Fields (1 mile south-west) and Cambridge Heath (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (5 miles south-west), Marylebone (5 miles south-west), Kensington (7 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles west) and Walthamstow (3 miles north).
Landmarks near Hackney
Around Hackney, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Urswick School, Clapton Park and Chesham Arms and the streets around them. Hackney has its own railway station: Homerton station. Nearby you will also find Hackney Walk (under half a mile north-west) and Cell Project Space (0.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Tower Hill and Old Ford Island.
What we look for on each type of roof
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Single-ply membranes
On single-ply roofs, the welds between sheets are the key detail. We look at seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
Nearby places to Hackney
Other services in Hackney
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is often on a shared landing. If that applies to your building, it is useful to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Hackney runs like any other.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We check the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it’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 we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
How to book
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What we are asked to look at in Hackney
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.
Look out for signs like these:
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Anyone responsible for a site like Berger Primary School will know that a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What the survey won’t cover
- How soon the report will arrive
Useful tips for Hackney property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Small defects are simpler to deal with while they’re still small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys typically lasts longer.