Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Hitchin
Flat roof surveys in Hitchin from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Standing water left after rain
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes an hour or two for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Most visits in a town like Hitchin start at the front of the house and work round to the back. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen. The loft comes next, where there is safe access.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
How to prepare
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Flat roof survey in Hitchin
A flat roof does not shed water the way a pitched roof does. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we look for signs that water has reached the deck. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We’re often asked to look into outlets choked with leaves and silt and ponding water that doesn’t drain away, across EPDM rubber, single-ply membranes and mastic asphalt.
Houses around a town like Hitchin often have a flat roof somewhere, over an extension, garage, porch or dormer. Many are felt, and newer ones may be EPDM rubber or GRP. Ponding water, splits along the edges and lifting upstands are the usual warning signs. Water that sits for days after rain is often the first sign a flat roof needs attention.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Hitchin (SG4, SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note the date and type of any roof work
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of what we found. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Small defects are simpler to deal with while they’re still small. Prompt repairs tend to add years to a flat roof.
Hitchin questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hitchin?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Hitchin in the area you cover?
Yes, Hitchin is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We do not give a fixed number of years, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water a day or two after rain typically needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. The survey looks at each and records the likely cause.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. It’s a closer look at the flat roof, not a survey of the whole property. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
What we’re asked to look at in Hitchin
No flat roof covering lasts for ever. Around 15 to 20 years is common for felt, while EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Outlets that hold water back
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Water getting in at rooflights
- A sagging deck under the covering
If you look after a building like Hitchin Girls' School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Before booking anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What they will not be able to tell you
More services for Hitchin
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
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 want to find out.
Getting in touch
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Flat roofs in Hitchin
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you own a rental within reach of Hitchin station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Saviour: the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Hitchin is about 5 miles north-west of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in Hitchin is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Hitchin is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for flat roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
We survey roofs across the SG4 and SG5 postcode area for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Market Place, London Road and Harrison Close. You’ll find Hitchin on the A505 and A600, which makes it simple to reach. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Benslow (1 mile east), Poets Estate (1 mile east), Bearton (1 mile north-west), Walsworth (1 mile north-east) and Westmill (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (5 miles south-east), St Albans (14 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south), Hatfield (13 miles south) and Hertford (13 miles south-east). Being one of Hertfordshire’s larger places, Hitchin has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Hitchin
In Hitchin, that means homes and buildings near Highbury Infant School and Nursery, Butts Close and Kingshott School, among other places. Nearby too are Radcliffe Arms (less than half a mile north-east) and St Mary's Church (within half a mile south-west). There is a railway station in Hitchin itself: Hitchin station. Other landmarks nearby include Wymondley Castle (1.7 miles east) and Lister Hospital (3.1 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Purwell Ninesprings and Markham's Hill.
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Why get it checked now?
A leak over an office, shop or unit can affect the people and stock underneath. A planned survey lets you budget for work rather than deal with an emergency around the business. Blocked gutters and downpipes on homes in Hitchin overflow onto walls. At roof level, a loose tile or tired flashing does the same. Left alone, both only get worse.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Hitchin
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- An independent look at the roof
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.