Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Ivy Chimneys, Essex
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Ivy Chimneys. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
How a flat roof survey works in Ivy Chimneys
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. If you’ve noticed blocked or damaged outlets and pools of water lying on the roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on EPDM rubber, single-ply membranes and felt flat roofs alike.
Some older homes in villages like Ivy Chimneys are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Ivy Chimneys (CM16)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Flat and commercial roofs around Ivy Chimneys
About 2.4 miles south-east lies Hill Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Ivy Chimneys has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St John the Baptist, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Ivy Chimneys means lost rooms as well as repairs.
Ivy Chimneys is about 1 mile south-west of Epping, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Ivy Chimneys can all book flat roof surveys. Our Essex coverage includes Ivy Chimneys and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Flat roof surveys in CM16 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include High Road, Theydon Road and Centre Avenue. We also cover the places around Ivy Chimneys: Epping (1 mile north-east), Steward's Green (1 mile east), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile east), Theydon Garnon (2 miles south-east) and Hobbs Cross (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Harlow (6 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (4 miles west) and Stansted Mountfitchet (15 miles north).
Around Ivy Chimneys
In Ivy Chimneys, that means homes and buildings near The Black Lion pub and St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, among other places. Well-known places in the area include Epping Signalling Museum (0.6 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (1.4 miles north-east). The countryside around Ivy Chimneys includes Lippitts Hill and Gernon Bushes.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Ivy Chimneys?
A buyer’s general survey frequently recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Building owners and managing agents book to plan maintenance, or before a sale or a new lease. In each case, the report gives a written, photographed record of the roof’s condition.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
If you look after a building such as Ivy Chimneys Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What the survey will not cover
- How long the report takes to arrive
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Older rural homes like those around Ivy Chimneys can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
To get a price for flat roof surveys in Ivy Chimneys, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Why it’s worth a survey now in Ivy Chimneys
Waiting for a stain inside means the water has already got through the layers. We can pick up worn covering and failing details sooner, so you can plan the work rather than react to it. Older and listed buildings around Ivy Chimneys may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Surveys on any day of the week
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent view of the roof
- Photos and a written report every time
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Also near Ivy Chimneys
More services for Ivy Chimneys
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen 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.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Questions from Ivy Chimneys
Do you look at commercial flat roofs near Ivy Chimneys, such as hotels?
Yes, commercial buildings, hotels included, are part of the work. Access to the roof is sorted out with whoever manages the building before the day.
Do you cover smaller places like Ivy Chimneys?
Yes, Ivy Chimneys is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Ivy Chimneys?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies.
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Roof area
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.