Southampton · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Northam
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Northam, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
The survey, step by step
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. A visit to a smaller place like Northam is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is access.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk 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 we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Flat roof survey in Northam: what you get
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. 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 felt flat roofs, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets, and the problems we are asked to look at most are dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and pools of water lying on the roof.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Northam can be more exposed, particularly where nothing shelters them, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Felt and bitumen also age in strong sun. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- Northam (SO14, SO19, SO18)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Northam
Also in Northam
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
For landlords and building managers, the report is a dated record of the roof’s condition. It helps when planning maintenance budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
Flat and commercial roofs around Northam
Northam is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. With Southampton Tudor House and Garden about 1.3 miles south-west, Northam sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take a building like Bitterne Manor Primary School: a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If you run a hotel or guest house in or near Northam, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Northam is about 1 mile south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. We survey roofs in Northam and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Southampton.
We work across SO14, SO19 and SO18 for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Sea Road, Lumpy Lane and Cross Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Northam include Peartree Green (1 mile south), Bitterne Manor (1 mile north), Itchen (1 mile south-east), St Mary's (1 mile south-west) and Bitterne (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west), Eling (5 miles west) and Rownhams (4 miles north-west).
Near you in Northam
Typical jobs here are in homes near Inspire Enterprise Academy, East Park and The Engineers Arms and the streets around them. Northam’s nearest station is Bitterne station, roughly 0.6 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.8 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.2 miles west). Open spaces near Northam include Netley Common.
Common questions in Northam
Is my home in Northam listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover commercial flat roofs around Northam?
Yes, we cover commercial roofs as well as homes. Access to the roof is sorted out with whoever manages the building before the day.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How do I book a survey in Northam?
To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Prices for flat roof surveys in Northam
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Every price we give includes VAT. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Common roof problems in Northam
The details are frequently where a flat roof lets go first. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. Where they weren’t finished well, they tend to fail before anything else.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Outlets that hold water back
- Leaks around rooflights
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Augustine, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will the report include photos?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photographs.
GRP fibreglass
GRP can crack if the deck beneath flexes or if the resin was laid too thin. We record any cracking and any signs of the deck moving.