Thurrock · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Little Thurrock
Flat roof surveys in Little Thurrock and the rest of Thurrock. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Little Thurrock
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Little Thurrock?
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. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you come out to Little Thurrock?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
What types of flat roof do you survey?
Felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes are all part of the work. We record what the covering is and how it’s holding up.
Do you go up onto the roof?
It depends on what’s safe: on the roof where it’s safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
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.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
How a flat roof survey works in Little Thurrock
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. The findings go into a written report with photos, setting out the defects and what we’d recommend. We are often asked to look into cracked or split membrane and edge trims that have lifted or split, on mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and felt flat roofs.
In a smaller place like Little Thurrock, some flat roofs sit in the open, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for, along with water that sits after rain. Standing water that lingers for days after rain is another sign worth watching for.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Little Thurrock (RM16, RM17)
- Wider area
- Thurrock
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Little Thurrock
Also in Little Thurrock
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
Local flat roofs in Little Thurrock
Little Thurrock is within about 4 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St John the Evangelist, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Deneholm Primary School, a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Little Thurrock is about 1 mile north-east of Grays, in Thurrock. We cover Little Thurrock and the rest of Thurrock. Little Thurrock is one of the places in Thurrock we cover for flat roof surveys. Maidstone is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RM16 and RM17. Streets in the area include Long Lane, Lodge Lane and Kerry Road. You will find Little Thurrock on the A1013, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Little Thurrock include Grays (1 mile south-west), Orsett Heath (1 mile east), Chafford Hundred (1 mile west), Chadwell St Mary (1 mile east) and North Stifford (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Stanford-le-Hope (5 miles north-east), South Ockendon (3 miles north-west), Balstonia (4 miles north-east), Corringham (6 miles east), Aveley (4 miles west) and Purfleet-on-Thames (4 miles west).
What’s near Little Thurrock
We work in homes and buildings around The Hathaway Academy and Treetops School, among other places. Little Thurrock’s nearest station is Grays station, roughly 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Thameside Centre (1 mile south-west) and Thurrock Community Hospital (under half a mile north). For a walk, there is Sawyers Lake and Chafford Gorges Nature Park.
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. The survey checks for crazing, cracking, blistering and splits where the asphalt turns up the walls.
EPDM rubber
Lifting at the edges and loose areas of membrane are common EPDM problems. We record any we can see, with photos.
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Common roof problems in Little Thurrock
People go onto flat roofs for all sorts of reasons: cleaning windows, fitting aerials or air conditioning, or clearing gutters. A covering that wasn’t designed for foot traffic can crack or puncture. New brackets and fixings through the roof are another common source of leaks.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Outlets that hold water back
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
If you run a business near Ealing Broadway Centre, flat roofs over shops and units are easy to forget until water comes through a ceiling.
Questions to ask before you book
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
The survey, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A visit to Little Thurrock is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Read more
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- When you need the report by
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- What kind of property and roof it is
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.