Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Start Hill
Not sure what state the flat roof is in? We carry out flat roof surveys in Start Hill and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
What happens if roof problems are left?
By the time a flat roof leak shows indoors, water has already passed through the roof build-up. We can pick up worn covering and failing details sooner, while there’s still time to plan the work. In a small place like Start Hill, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Start Hill
- Visits on any day of the week
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Flat roof survey in Start Hill: what you get
Every flat roof covering tends to fail in its own way. Built-up felt tends to blister and crack, asphalt crazes and splits, EPDM can lift at its laps, and GRP can crack at board joints and edge trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it is doing helps you plan what comes next. We survey EPDM rubber, felt flat roofs and upstands and outlets, and common reasons people get in touch are blistering in felt or asphalt and dips that suggest the deck is deflecting.
Some older homes in villages like Start Hill are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Start Hill (CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Start Hill
More services for Start Hill
What affects the price in Start Hill
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Which survey package you book
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. In a hamlet or village like Start Hill, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We check the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Read more
Landlords, agents and block managers in Start Hill
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Start Hill. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Start Hill
Do you cover smaller places like Start Hill?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you cover Start Hill?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Start Hill as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report follows by email.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
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.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Start Hill?
Buyers frequently book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. In each case, the report gives a written, photographed record of the roof’s condition.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
If you look after a building like Birchwood High School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Are they insured for the work?
- How long the report takes to arrive
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
What a flat roof survey looks like in Start Hill
Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. With Barrington Hall about 2.8 miles south-east, Start Hill sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Bishops Stortford station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Start Hill is about 2 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. We carry out flat roof surveys in Start Hill for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our Essex coverage includes Start Hill. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Every address in CM22 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Start Hill and Provenance Close. If you’re just outside Start Hill, we cover Bedlar's Green (1 mile south), Takeley Street (2 miles east), Burton End (2 miles north), Takeley (2 miles east) and Smith's Green (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (15 miles south-east), Braintree (15 miles east), Harlow (8 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Waltham Abbey (15 miles south-west) and Great Dunmow (6 miles east).
Around Start Hill
In Start Hill, that means homes and buildings near The Three Willows pub. The nearest railway station is Bishops Stortford station, about 1.9 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include House On The Hill Toy Museum (2.4 miles north) and Moated mound (4.5 miles west). For a walk, there is Portingbury Hills and Rushy Mead.