Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Rickmansworth Flat Roof Survey
We carry out flat roof surveys in Rickmansworth and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Cracked or split membrane
- A sagging deck under the covering
Flat and commercial roofs around Rickmansworth
Chenies Manor House, about 3.7 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Rickmansworth. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. Take a building like Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School: schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Rickmansworth is about 3 miles south-west of Watford, in Hertfordshire. We carry out flat roof surveys in Rickmansworth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. London is in our area too.
All of WD3 and WD18 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include High Street, Station Road and London Road. Main roads around Rickmansworth include the A404 and A412, which makes travel easy. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Batchworth (1 mile south), Chorleywood West (1 mile north-west), Croxley Green (1 mile north-east), Mill End (1 mile west) and Woodcock Hill (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (3 miles north-east), Hemel Hempstead (8 miles north), St Albans (10 miles north-east), Harpenden (13 miles north), Hatfield (13 miles north-east) and Borehamwood (8 miles east).
Landmarks near Rickmansworth
Around Rickmansworth, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Rickmansworth Park Junior Mixed and Infant School, Rickmansworth Park and The Coach And Horses Public House and the streets around them. Rickmansworth has its own railway station: Rickmansworth station. A little further out are Chiltern Open Air Museum (3.2 miles west) and Charter Place (3.2 miles east). For a walk, there’s Chorleywood Common and Tumbling Bay.
About our flat roof survey in Rickmansworth
Every flat roof covering tends to fail in its own way. 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. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it’s doing helps you plan what comes next. We survey GRP fibreglass, single-ply membranes and mastic asphalt, and people most often book us about damaged trims at the roof edge and blisters and bubbles in the covering.
Houses around a town like Rickmansworth often have a flat roof somewhere, over an extension, garage, porch or dormer. Many are felt, and newer ones may be EPDM rubber or GRP. Ponding water, splits along the edges and lifting upstands are the usual warning signs. Water that sits for days after rain is often the first sign a flat roof needs attention.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Rickmansworth (WD3, WD18)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Rickmansworth
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. Over the years, coverings harden, crack and start to come away at the edges. Most people book a survey after a leak, before buying, or when they think the roof is getting old.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked or split membrane
- Water getting in at rooflights
Landlords with a home close to Rickmansworth station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Questions to ask before booking
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether VAT is added on top
Towns and villages near Rickmansworth
Also in Rickmansworth
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A typical visit in Rickmansworth begins with the street side of the roof and then moves round the building. Rear gardens and side paths often give the best view of extensions and back slopes, so unlocked gates help. Then, if it can be reached safely, we look in the loft.
- 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’s access.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Questions from Rickmansworth
Is there anything to prepare before you come to Rickmansworth?
Very little. Keep pets out of the way, leave side gates unlocked and have any old roof paperwork handy, and the visit in Rickmansworth can get straight on.
Is Rickmansworth in the area you cover?
Yes, Rickmansworth is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Rickmansworth as anywhere else.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It can point to blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is sagging, and it wears the covering faster. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Book a survey every few years
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Rickmansworth
Landlords, agents and building managers in Rickmansworth and across Hertfordshire can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.