Greater London · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Nunhead
We carry out flat roof surveys in Nunhead and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Blocked or damaged outlets
Flat roof survey in Nunhead: what you get
Water through a flat roof does not always come in where the stain is. It may start at a split, a lifted seam or a failed upstand well away from the damp patch. Our survey covers the whole roof, not just the part above the mark, with photographs of anything that could be letting water in. A roofer can then start from a clear picture of the problem. Typical surveys look at pools of water lying on the roof and splits and cracks in the covering, on single-ply membranes, felt flat roofs and mastic asphalt.
Water getting through a flat roof in London can travel under the covering and appear some way from the hole. Outlets, upstands against parapet walls and joins with the main roof are frequent culprits. In a block or conversion in Nunhead, the flat roof is often a shared part of the building.
The report records the flat roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Nunhead (SE15, SE4, SE14)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Nunhead
Do you carry out roof surveys in Nunhead?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Nunhead?
Typically it’s manageable with a little notice. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks normally begin, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source isn’t obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
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.
Places near Nunhead
Also in Nunhead
Honest limits
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Surveys in Nunhead can be booked for any day of the week. London parking is frequently by permit or pay-and-display, so it helps to know what’s near you, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they often give the best view of a rear addition.
- 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.
- 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
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Flat roofs in Nunhead
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. Historic houses like Queen's House, about 2.4 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Nunhead goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Nunhead station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Ivydale Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Nunhead is about 1 mile south-west of New Cross, in Greater London. We cover Nunhead and the rest of Greater London. Nunhead is one of the places in Greater London we cover.
Flat roof surveys in SE15, SE4 and SE14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Rye Road, Nash Road and Kitto Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover Telegraph Hill (1 mile north-east), Honor Oak (1 mile south), Peckham (1 mile north-west), New Cross (1 mile north-east) and Brockley (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover London (3 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (5 miles north).
Around Nunhead
In Nunhead, that means homes and buildings near The Ivy House, Peckham Rye and Allenby Tutorial Trust and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Nunhead itself: Nunhead station. A little further out are Greenwich Castle (2.4 miles north-east) and Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Knight's Hill and One Tree Hill.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Nunhead
On a commercial building, a flat roof leak can disrupt tenants, staff and stock. A planned survey lets you budget for work rather than deal with an emergency around the people who use the building. London’s older roofs often have bitumen felt underlay or none at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Nunhead
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Nunhead
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
Buyers can take the findings back to the seller or the agent. It can support a request for work before completion or a conversation about price, depending on the findings.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Common roof problems in Nunhead
No flat roof covering lasts for ever. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
Look out for signs like these:
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Nunhead, along with any off-street space.
Questions to ask before you book
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their track record with similar roofs