Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Sandown
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Sandown, with photographs and a written report.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Upstands pulling away from walls
Common questions in Sandown
How do I find out if my home in Sandown is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is the coastal weather around Sandown hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Sandown is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
How much does a flat roof survey cost in Sandown?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book. For a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. It’s a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Should I worry about standing water on my flat roof?
Water that lies on a flat roof for days is a sign that something needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. We check each of these and record what we find.
About our flat roof survey in Sandown
Many commercial buildings and blocks of flats have big flat roofs. On a roof like this, a survey shows where the covering is wearing, where water is ponding and which outlets need attention. The photographed record helps you plan and budget for work. Commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so it helps if you phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a rough idea of the roof area. Typical surveys look at blistering in felt or asphalt and loose or cracked edge trims, on mastic asphalt, single-ply membranes and EPDM rubber.
Outbuildings, garden rooms and garages in places like Sandown frequently have flat roofs of their own. They’re rarely looked at until something gets wet. If you want them looked at too, mention them when booking, along with the main flat roof. Smaller roofs use the same coverings as bigger ones, from felt to rubber and GRP, and age in the same way.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Sandown (PO36, PO37)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Sandown
What else we do in Sandown
Practical tips
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It helps when planning maintenance budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A visit to Sandown is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Flat and commercial roofs around Sandown
Sandown is within about 1 mile of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. Thatch survives on some older Isle of Wight buildings, and nowhere on the island is far from the sea. Next to the main roofs there is normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Bay Church of England School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For an older house near a landmark like Christ Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Sandown is about 10 miles south of Gosport, in the Isle of Wight. We provide flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Sandown and nearby. Our area takes in places right across the Isle of Wight. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We work across PO36 and PO37 for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on High Street, Nunwell Street and Park Rise or a nearby road, we can survey it. Sandown is on the A3055 and A3056, which makes it straightforward to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Lake (1 mile south-west), Yaverland (1 mile north-east), Adgestone (1 mile north), Alverstone (1 mile north-west) and Morton (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Newport (7 miles north-west), Ryde (5 miles north), Cowes (10 miles north-west), Ventnor (5 miles south-west), East Cowes (9 miles north-west) and Oakfield (5 miles north). Sandown is among the bigger towns we cover in the Isle of Wight. Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so please mention your location when you phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Around Sandown
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Old Comical pub, Sandown Bay Academy and Broadlea Primary School and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Sandown itself: Sandown station. A little further out are National Poo Museum (within half a mile south) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (1.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Sandown includes Alverstone Mead and Brading Down.
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, though quality and upkeep make a big difference. We record how yours is doing and where it is weakest.
Single-ply membranes
On single-ply roofs, the welds between sheets are the key detail. We look at seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What we’re asked to look at in Sandown
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. Blocked outlets, poor falls and a sagging deck are the usual causes. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
Problems we come across often include:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Sandown means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
What to check before booking
- Their report turnaround times
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What follow-up you get after the report
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.