Hampshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Swanwick
Know where you stand with the flat roof before you spend money on it. Flat roof surveys in Swanwick.
- Outlets that hold water back
- Leaks around rooflights
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Flat roof survey in Swanwick
Offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats often sit under large flat roofs. On a roof like this, a survey shows where the covering is wearing, where water is ponding and which outlets 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 it helps if you phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a rough idea of the roof area. If you are worried about signs of deflection in the roof deck and leaks around rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Swanwick take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, 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.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Swanwick (SO31, PO15)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It is useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that is looked after between surveys usually lasts longer.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Swanwick
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere as small as Swanwick, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What a flat roof survey looks like in Swanwick
Swanwick lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Paul, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Sarisbury Church of England Junior School, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Swanwick is about 2 miles south of Hedge End, in Hampshire. We provide flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Swanwick and nearby. Swanwick is one of the places in Hampshire we cover.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: SO31 and PO15. Local streets include Walpole Lane, Ashby Mews and Swanwick Lane, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Swanwick (1 mile north-west), Sarisbury (1 mile south-east), Park Gate (1 mile south-east), Burridge (1 mile north-east) and Sarisbury Green (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Winchester (12 miles north), Gosport (8 miles south-east), Havant (13 miles east), Eastleigh (6 miles north-west), Fareham (4 miles south-east) and Horndean (12 miles east).
Local landmarks in Swanwick
We work in homes and buildings around The Old Ship Inn and Brookfield Community School and Language College, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bursledon station, about 0.8 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum (less than half a mile north) and St Andrew's Castle (2.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Swanwick Lakes.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Swanwick
How do I find out if my home in Swanwick is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Swanwick?
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.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Only where it’s 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.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found.
What we cannot see
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Swanwick
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
What we look for on each type of roof
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Felt and built-up roofs
Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, depending on how they were laid and looked after. We record how yours is doing and where it’s weakest.
Towns and villages near Swanwick
Other services in Swanwick
Common roof problems in Swanwick
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.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
For landlords with property near Bursledon station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
What to check before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether VAT is added on top