Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in The Willows, Hertfordshire
Flat roof surveys in The Willows from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Loose or cracked edge trims
Flat roof survey in The Willows
Flat roofs deal with rain in a very different way from pitched ones. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We are often asked to look into a sagging deck under the covering and cracked or split membrane, across single-ply membranes, GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber.
Some older homes in villages like The Willows are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the flat roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- The Willows (SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older roofs in small places like The Willows can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is access.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Leave it or get it looked at?
Flat roofs cannot usually be seen from the street, so they’re frequently overlooked. Owners often learn the roof is at the end of its life only when it leaks. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like The Willows, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your survey before you book.
Why book us in The Willows
- 20+ years’ experience
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Plain-English reports with photos
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are typically where trouble starts. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
GRP fibreglass
A well-laid GRP roof often lasts up to about 30 years. Cracking where boards meet or where the deck moves is a common early sign of trouble.
Places near The Willows
What else we do in The Willows
What a flat roof survey looks like in The Willows
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you let a flat or house near Stansted Mountfitchet station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
The Willows is about 5 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. In The Willows, as across Hertfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes The Willows. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in SG9 is covered for flat roof surveys. You will find streets such as Ginns Road and The Wash. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Stocking Pelham (1 mile north-east), Berden (2 miles north-east), Uppend (2 miles south-east), Starling's Green (2 miles north-east) and Mount Pleasant (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles south-east), Hoddesdon (13 miles south), Hertford (12 miles south-west), Letchworth (14 miles west) and Ware (10 miles south-west).
Landmarks near The Willows
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Cock pub. For rail, the closest station is Stansted Mountfitchet station, about 4.7 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Brent Pelham (2.2 miles north-west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (5.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Common roof problems in The Willows
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Water getting in at rooflights
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Furneux Pelham Church of England School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
Questions from The Willows
Is The Willows in the area you cover?
Yes, The Willows is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
How do I find out if my home in The Willows is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you survey a flat roof on an office or unit?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on commercial buildings as well as homes. A commercial roof usually takes about 3 to 4 hours on site, longer if it’s large or complex, with larger roofs quoted on their size.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
Felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes are all part of the work. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks typically begin, and photograph anything that could be letting water in. If the source is hidden, we may suggest a leak investigation or electronic leak detection.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Book a survey every few years
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, especially after the leaves fall. A flat roof that drains well wears much more slowly.