Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Sarratt
Wondering about the flat roof at a property in Sarratt? You can book a flat roof survey in Sarratt and across Hertfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Pools of water lying on the roof
Local flat roofs in Sarratt
With Chenies Manor House about 1.8 miles west, Sarratt sits in an area with a long building history. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Cross: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Sarratt Church of England Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Sarratt is about 3 miles north of Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire. We carry out flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Sarratt and the surrounding area. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Sarratt and the places around it. We also survey roofs in London.
Surveys in WD3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Alexandra Road, Downer Drive and The Briars. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Micklefield Green (1 mile south-east), Bucks Hill (1 mile north-east), Chandler's Cross (2 miles south-east), Loudwater (2 miles south) and Chorleywood West (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Watford (4 miles east), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles north), St Albans (8 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles north-east), Harpenden (11 miles north-east) and Hatfield (12 miles north-east).
Around Sarratt
In Sarratt, that means homes and buildings near The Boot Public House and St Clement Danes School, among other places. Sarratt’s nearest station is Chorleywood station, about 2.3 miles south-west. A little further out are Chiltern Open Air Museum (3.8 miles south-west) and Leavesden Hospital (4 miles east). For a walk, there is Sarratt Bottom nature reserve and Tumbling Bay.
About our flat roof survey in Sarratt
Flat roofs deal with rain in a very different way from pitched ones. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. If you’ve noticed edge trims that have lifted or split and blistering in felt or asphalt, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Sarratt take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Location
- Sarratt (WD3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Sarratt
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.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Places near Sarratt
Other services in Sarratt
What you can safely check yourself
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the flat roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes between one and two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like Sarratt, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We look at the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Every part of the roof we can see is looked at: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- Where there is safe access, we look at the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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Your questions about flat roof surveys in Sarratt
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sarratt?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Sarratt within the area you cover?
Yes. Sarratt is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain doesn’t usually stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
Our survey doesn’t include asbestos testing. Older buildings, from before 2000, may have asbestos in cement sheets or soffits. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. It often sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Sarratt?
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Around 15 to 20 years is common for felt, while EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
If you let a flat or house near Chorleywood station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What they will not be able to tell you
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
How the survey changes by roof type
Single-ply membranes
On single-ply roofs, the welds between sheets are the key detail. We check seams, corners and the joints around outlets and upstands.
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.