Southampton · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Rownhams, Southampton
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof before you spend money on it. We carry out flat roof surveys in Rownhams, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Cracked or split membrane
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
How a flat roof survey works in Rownhams
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets and rooflights. Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply PVC or TPO roofs are all part of the work. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. The findings go into a written report with photos, setting out the defects and what we’d recommend. If you’ve noticed cracked or split membrane and edge trims that have lifted or split, we can find out what’s behind it.
Around a smaller place like Rownhams, flat roofs typically cover extensions, garages and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let plenty of water into the room below. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. Ponding, splits and lifting edges are the signs to look for from a window.
The report records the flat roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Rownhams (SO16)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply relies on its welded laps staying sound. We look at seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
GRP fibreglass
A GRP fibreglass roof is a hard, resin-bonded surface over a timber deck. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Rownhams
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Rownhams, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
South Stoneham House lies about 3.5 miles east, so building around Rownhams goes back a long way. Older houses nearby often have flat roofs added much later, built to very different standards from the main roof. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St John, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start. If you look after a building such as Rownhams St John's Church of England Primary School, schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Rownhams is about 3 miles north-east of Totton, in Southampton. In Rownhams, as across Southampton, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Southampton, we cover Rownhams.
We cover every part of the SO16 postcode area for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Rownhams Way, Horns Drove and Rownhams Close. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Upton (1 mile west), Nursling (1 mile south-west), Hillyfields (1 mile south-west), Lordswood (1 mile south-east) and Toothill (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Southampton (3 miles south-east), Townhill Park (4 miles east), Midanbury (4 miles east), Thornhill (6 miles south-east), Chartwell Green (5 miles east) and Harefield (5 miles south-east).
Around Rownhams
Typical jobs here are in homes near Oaklands Community School, St James' Park and Oasis Academy Lord's Hill, among other places. The closest station to Rownhams is Redbridge station, roughly 2.1 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Princess Anne Hospital (1.3 miles south-east) and Eling Experience (2.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Rownhams includes Testwood Lakes.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you get in touch
We will typically ask about:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
What we do, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. In a smaller place like Rownhams, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- We check the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Where there is safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Read more
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Book a survey every few years
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. It is your choice who carries out the work and when.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. If water is still there a day or two later, have it checked.
Checking the roof from the ground
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Common questions in Rownhams
Is the coastal weather around Rownhams hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is Rownhams within the area you cover?
Yes, Rownhams is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
We don’t give a fixed number of years, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Where it is safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. Otherwise we use windows, vantage points and the spaces below, and we note any area we couldn’t see. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.