Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in The Folly, Hertfordshire
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in The Folly, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Raised blisters across the surface
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for the job before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Height and safe access
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Booking your survey
We will typically ask about:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The property’s address and postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
For a price for flat roof surveys in The Folly, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
About our flat roof survey in The Folly
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photographs 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. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size. We survey upstands and outlets, GRP fibreglass and mastic asphalt, and common reasons people get in touch are splits and cracks in the covering and pools of water lying on the roof.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like The Folly 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- The Folly (AL4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in The Folly
Flat roofs take the full force of the weather on a surface that drains slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. People normally call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Leaks around rooflights
- Cracked or split membrane
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Upstands pulling away from walls
For an older house near a landmark such as St Helen's Church, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear.
Before booking anyone
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What insurance they carry
Places near The Folly
What else we do in The Folly
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Look for standing water a day after rain
Once we’ve been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, especially after the leaves fall. A flat roof that drains well wears much more slowly.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in The Folly
Will you come out to The Folly?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in The Folly?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Usually, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It’s not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most flat roofs are out of sight, so they’re easy to forget. Many owners only find out a roof is worn out when water comes through. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. For an older or listed building in a place like The Folly, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What you get with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
The survey, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. The survey usually takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Somewhere like The Folly needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- Every part of the roof we can see is looked at: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
Local flat roofs in The Folly
Historic houses such as Shaw's Corner, about 2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around The Folly goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Take a building like St Helen's Church of England Primary School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. If you own a rental within reach of Harpenden station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
The Folly is about 2 miles east of Harpenden, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in The Folly and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes The Folly. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: AL4. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Folly Fields and Lower Luton Road. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Lea Valley (1 mile west), Amwell (1 mile south), Mackerye End (1 mile north-west), Blackmore End (1 mile north) and Batford (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (11 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (8 miles south-west), Stevenage (8 miles north-east), St Albans (5 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles east) and Hitchin (9 miles north).
What’s near The Folly
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Sir John Lawes School and The Cherry Trees pub. The closest station to The Folly is Harpenden station, about 2 miles west of the centre. A little further out are St Albans City Hospital (4.2 miles south) and Harpenden Museum (2.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Wheathampstead Local Nature Reserve.
What we can’t see
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in The Folly
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets