Essex · London and the South East
Shenfield Flat Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the flat roof at your property in Shenfield, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Water getting in at rooflights
How a flat roof survey works in Shenfield
Ponding is often the first sign that something on a flat roof isn’t right. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. Typical surveys look at splits, cracks and crazing and leaks around rooflights, across felt flat roofs, mastic asphalt and single-ply membranes.
In a smaller place like Shenfield, some flat roofs sit in the open, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away. Standing water that lingers for days after rain is another sign worth watching for.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Shenfield (CM15, CM13)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The address and postcode of the property
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. In a smaller place like Shenfield, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- 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.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Shenfield questions
Do you cover Shenfield?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Shenfield is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Will you come out to Shenfield?
Yes. Shenfield is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks usually begin, and photograph anything that could be letting water in. Where the source isn’t obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
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 survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are usually where trouble starts. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
Mastic asphalt
Older asphalt can become brittle and crack as the roof moves. The report shows where it is cracking and how far it seems to extend.
Towns and villages near Shenfield
What else we do in Shenfield
Why get it checked now?
Standing water on a flat roof rarely sorts itself out. Most often it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and every wet spell adds to the wear. Finding the cause now keeps more options open. On a bungalow or cottage around Shenfield, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shenfield
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Every finding written up with photos
- Surveys seven days a week
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Flat and commercial roofs around Shenfield
Ingatestone Hall, about 3.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shenfield. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If you look after a building such as Shenfield St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. If you own a rental within reach of Shenfield station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Shenfield is about 1 mile north-east of Brentwood, in Essex. Wherever you are in Shenfield, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Shenfield is one of the places in Essex we cover for flat roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across the CM15 and CM13 postcode area for flat roof surveys. We cover properties on York Road, Hall Lane and Worrin Road. Other places close to Shenfield include Brentwood (1 mile south-west), Hutton Mount (1 mile south-east), Hutton (2 miles east), Ingrave (2 miles south-east) and Mountnessing (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (10 miles north-east), Basildon (7 miles south-east), Harlow (13 miles north-west), Canvey Island (14 miles south-east), Billericay (4 miles east) and Rayleigh (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in Shenfield
Around Shenfield, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Sawyers Hall College, Hutton Country Park and Shenfield High School and the streets around them. The closest station to Shenfield is Shenfield station, roughly 0.5 miles east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Brentwood Community Hospital (0.5 miles south). Open spaces near Shenfield include Thorndon Park.