Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in St Nicholas
We carry out flat roof surveys in St Nicholas and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
The survey, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. A visit to St Nicholas is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Flat roof survey in St Nicholas
Many commercial buildings and blocks of flats have big flat roofs. A survey of a roof this size picks out worn covering, standing water and outlets that need attention. We record the condition with photos so work can be planned and budgeted. We quote commercial roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so please phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and an idea of the roof’s size. We are frequently asked to look into loose or cracked edge trims and upstands pulling away from walls, across mastic asphalt, GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber.
In smaller places like St Nicholas, flat roofs are mostly on extensions, garages, porches and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let plenty of water into the room below. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs. Ponding, splits and lifting edges are the signs to look for from a window.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- St Nicholas (SG1, SG2)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a flat roof survey in St Nicholas
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. Over the years, coverings harden, crack and start to come away at the edges. Most people book a survey after a leak, before buying, or when they think the roof is getting old.
People normally book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Standing water left after rain
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Landlords with a home close to Stevenage station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- When you’ll get the report
- What experience they bring
- What they will not be able to tell you
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are buying, find out about the flat roof before you exchange. After that, the cost of any work is yours. A report gives you facts to put to the seller or agent. With lower homes, common in places like St Nicholas, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
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.
Why book us in St Nicholas
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent look at the roof
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Anything about access we should know
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
On felt, the upstands and edge details often fail before the main surface. Every upstand and edge is looked at, with photos of any that have lifted or cracked.
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt has no laps, so its weak points are cracks and the skirtings at walls and upstands. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in St Nicholas
Will you come out to St Nicholas?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in St Nicholas listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The report follows by email.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Splits, open laps, upstands, outlets and rooflights are all checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Local flat roofs in St Nicholas
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. St Nicholas is part of Stevenage, one of the post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. Many of those flat roofs have been re-covered over the years, and some may still have older felt.
Aston Bury lies about 3.3 miles south, so building around St Nicholas goes back a long way. Older homes nearby may have later flat-roofed extensions or dormers, often re-covered more than once. Anyone responsible for a site like The Leys Primary and Nursery School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
St Nicholas is about 1 mile north of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. St Nicholas gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Across Hertfordshire, we cover St Nicholas and the places around it. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
We work across SG1 and SG2 for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as York Road, Ripon Road and Drury Lane. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Rooks Nest (1 mile west), Pin Green (1 mile south-west), Chells (1 mile south-east), Stevenage (1 mile south) and Bedwell (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover St Albans (14 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south-west), Hitchin (4 miles north-west) and Hoddesdon (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in St Nicholas
In St Nicholas, that means homes and buildings near Church of Saint Nicholas and The Nobel School. St Nicholas’s nearest station is Stevenage station, roughly 2 miles south-west. A little further out are Wymondley Castle (2.7 miles north-west) and Stevenage Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near St Nicholas include Pryor's Wood.
Landlord and commercial surveys in St Nicholas
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.