Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Whitwell, Hertfordshire
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Whitwell, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Landlord and commercial surveys in Whitwell
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Flat roof survey in Whitwell: what you get
If the house you are buying has a flat roof on an extension, dormer or garage, it is worth knowing its condition before exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP frequently go on for longer. Our report records the covering, how it is holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. We survey EPDM rubber, mastic asphalt and GRP fibreglass, and people most frequently book us about outlets choked with leaves and silt and a sagging deck under the covering.
In a small place like Whitwell, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Whitwell (SG4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we are asked to look at in Whitwell
Water that does not drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It normally comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Splits, cracks and crazing
If you own a rental within reach of Stevenage station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Around Whitwell, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We check the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
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Whitwell: your questions answered
Do you cover Whitwell?
Yes, Whitwell is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Will you come out to Whitwell?
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 a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see each point for yourself.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Asbestos testing isn’t part of our survey. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, such as old cement sheeting, the report flags them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Do you go up onto the roof?
It depends on what’s safe: the roof itself where that’s safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
We don’t give a fixed number of years, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Places near Whitwell
What else we do in Whitwell
What affects the price in Whitwell
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Flat and commercial roofs around Whitwell
About 2.9 miles south lies Shaw's Corner, a reminder of how long the area around Whitwell has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Take a building like St Paul's Walden Primary School: schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. If you live in an older home near All Saints Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Whitwell is about 5 miles north-east of Harpenden, in Hertfordshire. Whitwell gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Whitwell is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for flat roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Milton Keynes.
Flat roof surveys in SG4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include High Street, Horn Hill and King George's Way, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in St Paul's Walden (1 mile north-east), Kimpton (2 miles south), Langley Bottom (2 miles north-east), Langley (2 miles east) and Rush Green (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Watford (15 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (11 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles north-east), St Albans (9 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles south-east) and Harpenden (5 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Whitwell
We work in homes and buildings around Eagle And Child Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Whitwell is Stevenage station, about 3.8 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Lister Hospital (4.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Whitwell include Stocking Springs Wood.
Different roofs, different checks
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. We view them from safe positions and photograph what we see.
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. The survey checks for cracking at board joints, at the edge trims and where the roof meets walls.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Whitwell
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass