Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Jack's Hatch
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Jack's Hatch from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Upstands pulling away from walls
When to book a survey in Jack's Hatch
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It normally comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Outlets that hold water back
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
Take a building like Water Lane Primary Academy: a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Before booking anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Their track record with similar roofs
Flat roof survey in Jack's Hatch
Ponding is often the first sign that something on a flat roof is not right. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. If the deck itself looks like a structural concern, we will recommend a structural engineer. We survey upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks around rooflights and pools of water lying on the roof.
Somewhere as small as Jack's Hatch, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
Most points in the report come with a picture, 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
- Jack's Hatch (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: 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 usually takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Jack's Hatch 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 address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is access.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us a few details about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
Why get it checked now?
A survey can show whether a whole new roof is needed or whether the problems are in a few places. At times the trouble is a handful of failed details, and at times the whole covering is worn. The report sets out what we found, so you can make that decision with a roofer. In a small place like Jack's Hatch, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Also near Jack's Hatch
Also in Jack's Hatch
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
On felt, the upstands and edge details frequently fail before the main surface. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
Local flat roofs in Jack's Hatch
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
For landlords with property near Roydon station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. If you live in an older home near St James with St Luke, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Jack's Hatch is about 3 miles south-west of Harlow, in Essex. If you’re in Jack's Hatch, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Essex. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across CM16 for flat roof surveys. Jack's Hatch is on the B181, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover the places around Jack's Hatch: Broadley Common (1 mile west), Epping Green (1 mile south), Tylerscross (1 mile north-west), Staple Tye (1 mile north-east) and Great Parndon (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover Harlow (3 miles north-east), Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (6 miles south), Waltham Abbey (5 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (15 miles north-east) and Epping (3 miles south-east).
Around Jack's Hatch
We work in homes and buildings around Travellers Friend pub, Nazeing Triangle and Stewards School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Roydon station, about 3 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Harlow Mill (4.1 miles north-east) and Nazeing Glass Museum (3.3 miles west). For a walk, there is Cheshunt Lake and Hunsdon Mead.
Jack's Hatch questions
Do you cover Jack's Hatch?
Yes, Jack's Hatch is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Jack's Hatch is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you check the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. Otherwise we use windows, vantage points and the spaces below, and we note any area we couldn’t see. Fragile surfaces are never walked on.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Jack's Hatch?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.