Surrey · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Shortfield Common, Surrey
Get a clear view of the flat roof at a property in Shortfield Common. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Flat roof survey in Shortfield Common
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. You get a report with photographs and our recommendations. We survey GRP fibreglass, felt flat roofs and EPDM rubber, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps at upstands and abutments and edge trims that have lifted or split.
Some older homes in villages like Shortfield Common are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Shortfield Common (GU10)
- Region
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber
EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. Those details are where we focus.
Rooflights and upstands
Upstands at walls and parapets need to stay watertight as the building moves. We look for splits, gaps and failed flashings over the top.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Shortfield Common
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Shortfield Common. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Flat and commercial roofs around Shortfield Common
About 3 miles north lies Farnham Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Shortfield Common has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Older houses across Surrey frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Farnham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Edgeborough School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Shortfield Common is about 2 miles south of Farnham, in Surrey. Shortfield Common gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our area takes in places right across Surrey. We also survey roofs in Guildford.
All of GU10 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Hamlash Lane, West End Lane and Moons Hill. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Millbridge (1 mile east), Frensham (1 mile south), Lower Bourne (1 mile north), Tilford Reeds (2 miles east) and Crosswater (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (11 miles north-east), Woking (14 miles north-east), Camberley (11 miles north), Frimley (10 miles north), Haslemere (7 miles south-east) and Cranleigh (14 miles east).
Near you in Shortfield Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Underdown nature reserve, Weydon School and St Mary's CofE Aided Infant School and the streets around them. Shortfield Common’s nearest station is Farnham station, roughly 2.5 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Farnham (2.6 miles north) and Chase Community Hospital (5.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Shortfield Common includes Culverswell Hill and Farnham Heath.
Questions from Shortfield Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shortfield Common?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Shortfield Common?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The written report follows by email.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It’s not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
A precise figure is not something we give, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Older roofs in small places like Shortfield Common can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before the survey
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Nearby places to Shortfield Common
Other services in Shortfield Common
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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.