Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Surrex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Surrex and the rest of Essex. We survey on any day of the week.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Cracked or split membrane
- Pools of water lying on the roof
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Surrex
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: on the roof where it’s safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so the limits of the survey are clear. We survey single-ply membranes, felt flat roofs and upstands and outlets, and people most often book us about failed seals around rooflight kerbs and cracked or split membrane.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Surrex take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which frequently last around 15–20 years, usually show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Surrex (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. Any tears, punctures or loose membrane are recorded with photos.
Felt and built-up roofs
Many extensions, garages and dormers have a felt roof laid in layers. The survey checks for blisters, cracks, open laps and bare patches where the surfacing has worn.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
What we do, step by step
It helps 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 typically takes about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Surrex, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We look at the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Prices for flat roof surveys in Surrex
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The roof’s overall size
- House, block, shop or office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the exact price before booking.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Surrex questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Surrex?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Surrex?
Yes, Surrex is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Surrex as anywhere else.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Do you look in the loft space?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The report follows by email.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It’s not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. It often sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Nearby places to Surrex
More services for Surrex
Flat roof surveys around Surrex
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Layer Marney Tower, about 5 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Surrex. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you look after a building like Honywood Community Science School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. For an older house near a landmark such as St Peter ad Vincula, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Surrex is about 6 miles south-east of Halstead, in Essex. Surrex gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Surrex is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work for flat roof surveys. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: CO6. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Old Road and Colchester Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Surrex: Skye Green (1 mile south-east), Broad Green (1 mile east), Stocks Green (1 mile south), Little Tey (1 mile east) and Feering (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Colchester (8 miles east), Chelmsford (14 miles south-west), Braintree (7 miles west), Maldon (10 miles south), Witham (6 miles south-west) and Camulodunum (7 miles east).
Landmarks near Surrex
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Queens Head pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Kelvedon station, roughly 2.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Laundry & Mangle Museum (1.8 miles west) and Birch Castle (5 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Common roof problems in Surrex
The surface of a flat roof heats up and cools down far more than the rooms below. That movement pulls at seams, laps and the joints between boards, and in time it can open up splits and cracks. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
For landlords with property near Kelvedon station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What the survey will not cover
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their report turnaround times
Honest limits
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets