Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Nine Ashes, Essex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Nine Ashes and the rest of Essex. We survey seven days a week.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Upstands pulling away from walls
About our flat roof survey in Nine Ashes
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It is useful to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. Our report records the covering, how it is holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. We survey EPDM rubber, mastic asphalt and felt flat roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are outlets choked with leaves and silt and blistering in felt or asphalt.
In a small place like Nine Ashes, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, normally show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Nine Ashes (CM4)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
Nine Ashes: your questions answered
Will you come out to Nine Ashes?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Is my home in Nine Ashes listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building 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.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
We check the covering and every detail where leaks commonly start, recording anything that could let water through. If the source is hidden, we may suggest a leak investigation or electronic leak detection.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere as small as Nine Ashes, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Let us know about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Local flat roofs in Nine Ashes
With Ingatestone Hall about 4.6 miles south-east, Nine Ashes sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
Landlords with a home close to Ingatestone station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Laurence, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Nine Ashes is about 5 miles north of Brentwood, in Essex. Nine Ashes gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Nine Ashes is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for flat roof surveys. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: CM4. That includes homes and businesses on Rookery Road and Nine Ashes Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Norton Heath (1 mile north), Radley Green (2 miles north-east), Willingale (3 miles north), Loves Green (3 miles east) and Berners Roding (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (8 miles east), Basildon (11 miles south-east), Harlow (9 miles north-west), Brentwood (5 miles south), Billericay (7 miles south-east) and Rayleigh (15 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Nine Ashes
In Nine Ashes, that means homes and buildings near The Bull Inn, among other places. Nine Ashes’s nearest station is Ingatestone station, roughly 4.1 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (5.4 miles south) and Willingale Doe (3.4 miles north).
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply PVC and TPO membranes are common on commercial roofs and newer buildings. We check the welded laps, the edges, the fixings and any punctures.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Nine Ashes?
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. People usually call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Leaks around rooflights
- Loose or cracked edge trims
Anyone responsible for a site like Blackmore Primary School will know that a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Before booking anyone
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Why act early in Nine Ashes
On a commercial building, a flat roof leak can disrupt tenants, staff and stock. Surveying the roof in good time means work can be planned and budgeted around the people who use the building. For older village homes like those around Nine Ashes, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- An independent view of the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Nine Ashes
More services for Nine Ashes
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The size of the roof
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- What made you get in touch
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.