Essex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Writtle, Essex
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Writtle, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Outlets that hold water back
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
How a flat roof survey works in Writtle
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can be seen safely: from the roof itself where that is safe, from windows and nearby vantage points, and from inside where there’s access. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so you know exactly what was covered. We are often asked to look into standing water left after rain and leaks around rooflights, across upstands and outlets, single-ply membranes and GRP fibreglass.
Outbuildings, garden rooms and garages in places like Writtle often have flat roofs of their own. They’re rarely looked at until something gets wet. It’s worth mentioning them when booking, so the visit can include them, along with the main flat roof. Felt, rubber and GRP coverings on garages and outbuildings age in just the same way as the main roof’s.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Writtle (CM1)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. For a survey in Writtle, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from ground level, 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 photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
If you’re buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. It can support a request for work before completion or a conversation about price, depending on what we found.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
When to book a survey in Writtle
Buyers frequently book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photographs.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
If you own a rental within reach of Chelmsford station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Questions to ask before booking
- What experience they bring
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Writtle
Do you cover smaller places like Writtle?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Writtle?
Yes, Writtle is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
We check the covering and every detail where leaks commonly start, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source is not obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
What does a roof survey cost?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
How we price flat roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- When you need the report by
- The address and postcode of the property
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
What a flat roof survey does not cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
Also near Writtle
Other services in Writtle
Local flat roofs in Writtle
The wider area around Writtle has a long history of building, with Hylands about 1.4 miles south-east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
The streets around a church such as Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Writtle Infant School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Writtle is about 3 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Bookings from Writtle are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Essex, we cover Writtle and the places around it.
Here we cover the CM1 postcode area for flat roof surveys. We cover properties on Millfields, Well Field and Little Meadow. We also cover the places around Writtle: Widford (2 miles south-east), Moulsham (2 miles east), Chignall St James (2 miles north), Patching (2 miles north-east) and Chelmsford (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Basildon (11 miles south), Braintree (12 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (9 miles south-west), Maldon (11 miles east) and Billericay (7 miles south).
What’s near Writtle
In Writtle, that means homes and buildings near Rose And Crown Public House, Hylands School and Central Park and the streets around them. Writtle’s nearest station is Chelmsford station, about 2.1 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find Peter Edwards Museum And Library (2 miles east) and Bond Street Chelmsford (2.4 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Newland Grove.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.