Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Howe Green
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Howe Green, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Splits and cracks in the covering
How a flat roof survey works in Howe Green
A flat roof doesn’t 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. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, 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 signs of deflection in the roof deck and leaks around rooflights, on upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and felt flat roofs.
Older buildings in small places like Howe Green may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Howe Green (CM2)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
It is a careful look at the flat roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
What you can safely check yourself
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. Do not go up yourself.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Howe Green can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Getting a price
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
GRP fibreglass
Movement in the deck or a thin layer of resin can lead to cracks in GRP. Our report notes cracks and any sign that the deck is flexing.
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. Our report notes crazing, cracks and any likely entry points.
Nearby places to Howe Green
Also in Howe Green
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Howe Green
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Howe Green?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Howe Green?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
Our survey does not include asbestos testing. Older buildings, from before 2000, may have asbestos in cement sheets or soffits. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
How long will you be at the property?
It usually takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The report follows by email.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access as you book.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the roof itself where that is safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Flat roof surveys in Howe Green: local notes
The wider area around Howe Green has a long history of building, with Danbury Place about 1.7 miles north-east. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Next to the main roofs there’s typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Andrew, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. For landlords with property near Chelmsford station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Howe Green is about 3 miles south-east of Chelmsford, in Essex. We carry out flat roof surveys in Howe Green for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Essex.
We cover every part of the CM2 postcode area for flat roof surveys. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Chalklands, Southend Road and The Tythings and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include East Hanningfield (2 miles south-east), West Hanningfield (2 miles south-west), Bicknacre (2 miles east), Rettendon (3 miles south) and South Hanningfield (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (3 miles north-west), Basildon (9 miles south), Braintree (13 miles north), Brentwood (11 miles south-west), Maldon (7 miles east) and Canvey Island (12 miles south).
Local landmarks in Howe Green
For rail, the closest station is Chelmsford station, about 3.6 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Bond Street Chelmsford (3.3 miles north-west) and Baddow Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Hanningfield Reservoir.
When to book a survey in Howe Green
A buyer’s general survey often recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photos.
We are often asked to look at:
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
Take a building like The Sandon School: a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- Their track record with similar roofs
- How soon the report will arrive
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
Landlords, agents and block managers in Howe Green
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.