Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Stratford St Mary
Get a clear view of the flat roof at a property in Stratford St Mary. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Standing water left after rain
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a small place like Stratford St Mary, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Booking a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Stratford St Mary
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We survey felt flat roofs, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets, and common reasons people get in touch are loose or cracked edge trims and a sagging deck under the covering.
In a small place like Stratford St Mary, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Stratford St Mary (CO7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
What we look for on each type of roof
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.
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.
Also near Stratford St Mary
Also in Stratford St Mary
When to book a survey in Stratford St Mary
Many flat roof problems start at the details rather than the main surface. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. If they were rushed when the roof was laid, they’re frequently the first things to fail.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Pools of water lying on the roof
With Castle House about 1.7 miles south-east, the area around Stratford St Mary has a long history. If your home is older, its flat-roofed extension or dormer may be on its second or third covering.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- When you’ll get the report
- What insurance they carry
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Stratford St Mary
Stratford St Mary lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
Landlords with a home close to Manningtree station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Stratford St Mary Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Stratford St Mary is about 6 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. Whether the building in Stratford St Mary is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Stratford St Mary is one of the places in Essex we cover for flat roof surveys. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CO7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on The Street, Kenyon Close and Strickmere or anywhere close by, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Higham (1 mile north-west), Dedham (1 mile south-east), Lamb Corner (2 miles south), Holton St Mary (2 miles north-east) and Hornestreet (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Colchester (6 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (14 miles south-east), Harwich (13 miles east), Camulodunum (7 miles south-west), Halstead (15 miles west) and Greenstead (6 miles south).
Local landmarks in Stratford St Mary
We work in homes and buildings around East Bergholt High School and The Anchor pub, among other places. Stratford St Mary’s nearest station is Manningtree station, roughly 3.3 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Severalls Hospital (5 miles south-west) and The Munnings Museum (1.7 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Cattawade Marshes.
Common questions in Stratford St Mary
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Stratford St Mary?
Often, yes. Within about 5 miles of the sea, as Stratford St Mary is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you cover smaller places like Stratford St Mary?
Yes, Stratford St Mary is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it is not a structural engineer’s report. It often sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is checked. If the cause cannot be seen, we’ll say so and suggest what would help.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
We don’t carry out asbestos surveys. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos, for instance in cement roof sheets. We note anything that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check it before it is disturbed.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
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, giving you a chance to go through what we found.
Small defects are simpler to deal with while they’re still small. A flat roof that is looked after between surveys usually lasts longer.