Greater London · London and the South East
Old Ford Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys in Old Ford, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It normally takes about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. In Old Ford, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We check the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
How to book
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
Flat roof survey in Old Ford
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Felt can blister and crack, asphalt can craze and split, EPDM seams and laps can lift, and GRP can crack where boards meet or at the trims. On PVC and TPO single-ply roofs, we look closely at the welded laps, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it’s doing helps you plan what comes next. We are frequently asked to look into blocked or damaged outlets and pools of water lying on the roof, across felt flat roofs, upstands and outlets and single-ply membranes.
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 converted house in Old Ford, the roof above may belong to the building rather than one flat.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Old Ford (E3, E15, E9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Old Ford
Other services in Old Ford
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- 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 is useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
Check the roof from a window after a downpour. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Old Ford
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.
Common reasons to book include:
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Leaks around rooflights
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
Anyone responsible for a site like Mulberry UTC will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Before booking anyone
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is added on top
Honest limits
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
Questions from Old Ford
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Old Ford?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Old Ford?
It rarely stops a survey, but it’s worth planning. 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 applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address.
Do you work in Old Ford?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Old Ford.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. It often sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
Flat roofs in Old Ford
Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Next to the main roofs there is normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. There are several hotels within about a mile and a half of Old Ford, and like offices and blocks, hotels frequently sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
Landlords with a home close to Hackney Wick station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Westfield Stratford City, outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts.
Old Ford is about 2 miles west of Plaistow, in Greater London. Surveys in Old Ford work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. Our Greater London coverage includes Old Ford.
Every address in E3, E15 and E9 is covered for flat roof surveys. Local streets include Bow Road, Wick Lane and Dace Road, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile west), Fish Island (1 mile north), Bow (1 mile south-west), Hackney Wick (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
Landmarks near Old Ford
Around Old Ford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Lea Tavern, Grove Hall Park and Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Hackney Wick station, about 0.6 miles north. A little further out are Tower of London (3 miles south-west) and St Clement's Hospital (0.7 miles south-west). Not far away are Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A survey can show whether a whole new roof is needed or whether the problems are in a few places. Sometimes some details are to blame, and sometimes the covering has simply had its day. Our report gives you the evidence to discuss with a roofer. A hidden valley or parapet gutter on a London house can hold water for weeks before anyone notices. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See our cost guide and our case studies.