Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Little Bardfield, Essex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Little Bardfield, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Cracked or split membrane
- Leaks around rooflights
- Loose or cracked edge trims
FAQs for Little Bardfield
How do I find out if my home in Little Bardfield 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.
Is Little Bardfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Little Bardfield is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Little Bardfield as anywhere else.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks typically begin, and photograph anything that could be letting water in. Where the source is not obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it is not a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
About our flat roof survey in Little Bardfield
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets and rooflights. Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply PVC or TPO roofs are all part of the work. We survey extension, garage and dormer roofs as well as bigger roofs on flats, offices and units. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at blisters and bubbles in the covering and leaks around rooflights, across felt flat roofs, GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber.
Older buildings in small places like Little Bardfield may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. 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.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Little Bardfield (CM7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Around Little Bardfield, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Getting a price
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 call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, depending on how they were laid and looked after. Our report sets out its condition and the areas most at risk.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. Any tears, punctures or loose membrane are recorded with photos.
Why act early in Little Bardfield
Before replacing a flat roof, it is useful to know if you really need to. Sometimes a few details are to blame, and sometimes the covering has simply had its day. Our report gives you the evidence to discuss with a roofer. Around Little Bardfield, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Surveys seven days a week
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Places near Little Bardfield
Also in Little Bardfield
What we cannot see
A survey is a careful look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Little Bardfield
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Little Bardfield
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. It typically comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Standing water left after rain
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Water getting in at rooflights
If you live in an older home near Church of St Katharine, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How soon the report will arrive
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
DIY checks: what’s safe
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Little Bardfield
Historic houses such as Horham Hall, about 4.5 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Little Bardfield goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If you look after a building such as Great Bardfield Primary School, schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Little Bardfield is about 6 miles north-east of Great Dunmow, in Essex. Little Bardfield is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CM7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you’re just outside Little Bardfield, we cover Great Bardfield (1 mile east), Finchingfield (2 miles north-east), Bardfield Saling (3 miles south-east), Wethersfield (3 miles east) and Crow's Green (4 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (15 miles south), Braintree (8 miles south-east), Witham (14 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (9 miles north-west), Halstead (10 miles east) and Great Dunmow (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Little Bardfield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bell Public House, among other places. Green spaces nearby include West Wood.