Essex · London and the South East
The Common Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in The Common. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- A sagging deck under the covering
What you can safely check yourself
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Flat roof survey in The Common
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. For moisture detection and a structural check, the Standard Survey starts from £250. On a flat roof, moisture readings can help show whether water has got under the covering. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. Common reasons to book are upstands pulling away from walls and water getting in at rooflights, across single-ply membranes, upstands and outlets and EPDM rubber.
Some older homes in villages like The Common are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Place
- The Common (CB10)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local flat roofs in The Common
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you look after a building such as Radwinter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
The Common is about 4 miles east of Saffron Walden, in Essex. We visit The Common as part of our work across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. The Common is one of the places in Essex where we work for flat roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CB10 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Radwinter (1 mile south), Maple End (1 mile south-west), Wimbish (2 miles south-west), Hempstead (2 miles east) and Church End (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Braintree (13 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (4 miles west), Halstead (14 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (10 miles south), Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles south-west) and Great Notley (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in The Common
Well-known places in the area include Castle Camps (2.8 miles north-east) and Saffron Walden Community Hospital (3.5 miles west). Open spaces near The Common include Hales and Shadwell Woods.
Questions from The Common
Do you cover smaller places like The Common?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is my home in The Common listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
What does a roof survey cost?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Towns and villages near The Common
More services for The Common
How the survey works
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Cottages and farmhouses around The Common often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- 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.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Before the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
To get a price for flat roof surveys in The Common, ring 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
When to book a survey in The Common
People go onto flat roofs for all sorts of reasons: to clean windows, fit aerials or air conditioning units, or reach a gutter. Each visit can damage a covering not made for regular foot traffic. New brackets and fixings through the roof are another common source of leaks.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Splits and cracks in the covering
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Are they insured for the work?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
When you need someone else
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.