Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Wantage Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings around Wantage, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Outlets that hold water back
How a flat roof survey works in Wantage
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: from the roof itself where that’s safe, from windows and nearby vantage points, and from inside where there’s access. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. If part of the roof cannot be seen or reached safely, the report says so, so you know exactly what was covered. We are frequently asked to look into standing water left after rain and failed seals around rooflight kerbs, across single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and mastic asphalt.
Around Wantage, many garages, porches and extensions have flat roofs of their own. Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos, which a specialist asbestos surveyor should check before anyone disturbs them. Each kind of covering, from felt to rubber and GRP, is checked in its own way. Asbestos testing is not part of what we do, though a report may flag materials that could contain it.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Wantage (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. A typical visit in Wantage begins with the street side of the roof and then moves round the building. Rear gardens and side paths often give the best view of extensions and back slopes. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- We check the roof from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Nearby places to Wantage
What else we do in Wantage
Landlord and commercial surveys in Wantage
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
How the survey changes by roof type
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
Mastic asphalt
Older asphalt can become brittle and crack as the roof moves. The report shows where it is cracking and how far it seems to extend.
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
Clear leaves and silt from outlets and gutters, above all in autumn. Water that can drain away does far less harm than water that sits.
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
Wantage questions
Is Wantage in the area you cover?
Yes, Wantage is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Wantage?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
How long is the visit?
It usually takes 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.
Do you survey commercial flat roofs?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the address.
What happens next?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: on the roof where it’s safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Flat roof surveys around Wantage
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. 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.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Mary's School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter and 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.
Wantage is about 8 miles west of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Wantage, we can come and survey your property. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. Oxford is in our area too.
Surveys in OX12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Market Place, Limborough Road and Humber Close or a nearby road, we can survey it. Being close to the A338 and A417, Wantage is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Charlton (1 mile east), East Challow (1 mile west), Letcombe Regis (2 miles south-west), West Challow (2 miles west) and Childrey (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Oxford (14 miles north-east), Didcot (8 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (14 miles north-west) and Faringdon (8 miles north-west). Wantage is one of the larger places we cover in Oxfordshire.
Local landmarks in Wantage
In Wantage, that means homes and buildings near King Alfred's, Betjeman Millennium Park and The Abingdon Arms and the streets around them. A little further out are Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection (1.9 miles north). Not far away are Letcombe Valley and Chain Hill.