Hampshire · London and the South East
South Down Flat Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the flat roof at a property in South Down. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Leaks around rooflights
- Raised blisters across the surface
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Plant, fixings and foot traffic can all damage a single-ply roof. We note any punctures, tears and loose areas we can see.
Rooflights and upstands
We don’t walk on rooflights or fragile sheeting, and we treat older rooflights as fragile. They’re inspected from safe positions and recorded with photographs.
How a flat roof survey works in South Down
A flat roof leak often travels before it shows on the ceiling. It can run along the deck from a split, an open lap or a failed upstand some distance away. Our survey covers the whole roof, not just the part above the mark, and photograph anything that could let water in. Whoever carries out the work then has a clear starting point. If you’ve noticed upstands pulling away from walls and standing water left after rain, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on GRP fibreglass, upstands and outlets and mastic asphalt alike.
In a village or hamlet like South Down, flat roofs are usually on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Where
- South Down (SO21)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near South Down
Also in South Down
South Down questions
Is my home in South Down listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is South Down within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
What insurance do you have?
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.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Otherwise we use windows, vantage points and the spaces below, and we note any area we couldn’t see. Fragile surfaces are never walked on.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it is not a structural engineer’s report. It frequently sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
How do I book a survey in South Down?
It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run seven days a week.
Local flat roofs in South Down
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Shawford station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. If you look after a building like Twyford St Mary's Church of England Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
South Down is about 3 miles north-east of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. We visit South Down as part of our work across Hampshire, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: SO21. We cover properties on Cross Way, Fairfield Road and Grove Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around South Down: Compton (1 mile north), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west), Shawford (1 mile north-east), Twyford (1 mile east) and Oliver's Battery (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (3 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (10 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in South Down
In South Down, that means homes and buildings near The Bridge Inn and Thornden School. For rail, the closest station is Shawford station, about 0.6 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Balfour Museum of Hampshire Red Cross History (2.9 miles north) and Wolvesey Castle (3.2 miles north). For a walk, there’s Twyford Down and Shawford Down.
Practical tips
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the covering, its condition and every defect, and what we recommend. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
What we’re asked to look at in South Down
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. It normally comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
People normally book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Cracked or split membrane
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Before booking anyone
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
What we do, step by step
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes between one and two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Cottages and farmhouses around South Down often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- 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.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Advice
Checking the roof from the ground
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.