Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Howegreen, Essex
Flat roof surveys across Howegreen, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Book a survey every few years
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, giving you a chance to go through what we found.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
How a flat roof survey works in Howegreen
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can be seen safely: on the roof where it’s safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so you know exactly what was covered. If you’ve noticed raised blisters across the surface and a sagging deck under the covering, we can find out what’s behind it, on upstands and outlets, single-ply membranes and EPDM rubber alike.
Some older homes in villages like Howegreen are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Howegreen (CM3)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs can last up to about 30 years when they’re laid well. Hairline cracks over board joints are an early warning we look out for.
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. Any we find are noted and photographed.
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:
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
Common questions in Howegreen
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Howegreen?
Frequently, yes. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Howegreen is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Is my home in Howegreen listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will this cover the whole house?
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.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Asbestos testing is not part of our survey. If we see materials that could contain it, such as cement sheets on a building from before 2000, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Commercial and residential flat roofs are both covered. A commercial roof usually takes about 3 to 4 hours on site, longer if it is large or complex, and larger roofs are quoted for their size.
Do you work in Howegreen?
Yes. We cover Howegreen and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Flat roof surveys around Howegreen
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Howegreen, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Next to the main roofs there’s normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you own a rental within reach of North Fambridge station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Take an older house close to Parish Church of All Saints: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. If you look after a building like Purleigh Community Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Howegreen is about 3 miles south of Maldon, in Essex. We provide flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Howegreen and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Flat roof surveys in CM3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to Howegreen include Purleigh (1 mile north), Farther Howegreen (1 mile south-east), Great Canney (1 mile south), Rudley Green (1 mile north) and Cold Norton (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (8 miles north-west), Basildon (11 miles south-west), Braintree (14 miles north), Maldon (3 miles north), Canvey Island (12 miles south) and Billericay (11 miles west).
Landmarks near Howegreen
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bell Public House. For rail, the closest station is North Fambridge station, about 2.6 miles south-east of the centre. Green spaces nearby include Stow Maries Halt.
Prices for flat roof surveys in Howegreen
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What to let us know when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Why get it checked now?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a flat roof is before contracts are exchanged. After that, the cost of any work is yours. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Surveys seven days a week
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Places near Howegreen
What else we do in Howegreen
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect what can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Somewhere as small as Howegreen, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.