Greater London · London and the South East
South Harrow Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in South Harrow, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Flat roof survey in South Harrow: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It is useful to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with photos of each. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. If you’re worried about dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and failed upstands where the roof meets a wall, we can find out what’s behind it, on felt flat roofs, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets alike.
London has a lot of flat roofs: rear additions, dormers, roof terraces and the roofs of blocks and offices. Coverings range from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes, each with its own weak points. In South Harrow, as anywhere in London, the right approach depends on what the roof is made of. Older flat roofs are often felt or asphalt, newer ones rubber or GRP.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- South Harrow (HA2, HA1, UB5)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a London area like South Harrow, the main things to sort out are parking and access: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there’s access.
- 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
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
We confirm the price for the job before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Book a survey every few years
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
GRP fibreglass
Movement in the deck or a thin layer of resin can lead to cracks in GRP. We record any cracking and any signs of the deck moving.
Questions from South Harrow
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in South Harrow?
Parking in South Harrow, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Is South Harrow in the area you cover?
Yes, South Harrow is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in South Harrow as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
A precise figure is not something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t typically 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.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. 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.
Flat roofs in South Harrow
Historic houses like Northolt Manor, about 1.5 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around South Harrow goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
Parking in South Harrow, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised. For businesses in and around places like St. George's Shopping Centre, outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts. For landlords with property near Northolt Park station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
South Harrow is about 1 mile south of Harrow, in Greater London. Wherever you are in South Harrow, we can come and survey your property. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. We also survey roofs in London.
Every address in HA2, HA1 and UB5 is covered for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Park Lane, Grange Road and Dudley Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around South Harrow: Roxeth (1 mile north-east), Harrow (1 mile north), Harrow on the Hill (1 mile east), Rayners Lane (1 mile north-west) and Northolt (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include London (12 miles east), City of Westminster (9 miles east), Marylebone (9 miles east), Kensington (8 miles south-east), St Pancras (10 miles east) and Shoreditch (12 miles east).
What’s near South Harrow
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Orley Farm School, Northwick Park and St Dominic's Sixth Form College, among other places. South Harrow’s nearest station is Northolt Park station, roughly 0.5 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find St. George's Shopping Centre (1.3 miles north-east) and Kodak Museum (2 miles north). The countryside around South Harrow includes Middle Lake and Northala Fields.
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
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. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.