Essex · London and the South East
Rickling Green Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Rickling Green. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Pools of water lying on the roof
What we can’t see
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
Flat roof survey in Rickling Green: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It helps 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 photos of each. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. We survey EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and upstands and outlets, and people most often book us about dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and edge trims that have lifted or split.
Somewhere as small as Rickling Green, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Rickling Green (CB11)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Rickling Green often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
Waiting for a stain inside means the water has already got through the layers. A survey can find worn areas and failing details before that point, while there is still time to plan the work. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Rickling Green
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Visits on any day of the week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Common roof problems in Rickling Green
The surface of a flat roof heats up and cools down far more than the rooms below. That movement pulls at seams, laps and the joints between boards, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Upstands pulling away from walls
If you own a rental within reach of Newport (Essex) station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Local flat roofs in Rickling Green
Horham Hall, about 4.8 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Rickling Green. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
The streets around a church such as Church of Quendon are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start.
Rickling Green is about 5 miles south of Saffron Walden, in Essex. Anywhere in Rickling Green, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property. Our Essex coverage includes Rickling Green. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Surveys in CB11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Rickling Green Road, Hallfield and Brick Kiln Lane. If you’re just outside Rickling Green, we cover Wicken Bonhunt (2 miles north-west), Manuden (2 miles south-west), Hill Green (2 miles north-west), Clavering (3 miles north-west) and Berden (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Harlow (13 miles south), Saffron Walden (5 miles north), Great Dunmow (9 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (3 miles south), Great Notley (15 miles south-east) and Newhall (12 miles south).
Near you in Rickling Green
Around Rickling Green, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Cricketers Public House. For rail, the closest station is Newport (Essex) station, roughly 2.3 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Herts and Essex Hospital (5.8 miles south) and House On The Hill Toy Museum (3.1 miles south). Open spaces near Rickling Green include Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Common questions in Rickling Green
Do you cover smaller places like Rickling Green?
Yes, Rickling Green is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you cover Rickling Green?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How fast do I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email.
Do you cover flat roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Commercial and residential flat roofs are both covered. A commercial roof usually takes about 3 to 4 hours on site, longer if it’s large or complex, and larger roofs are quoted for their size.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it is holding up.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. With each roofer working from the same list, comparing quotes is simpler. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys usually lasts longer.
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.