Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Charlton, Hertfordshire
Get a clear view of the gutter at a property in Charlton. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Cracked or loose downpipes
Charlton homes and their roofs
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
Living close to Butts Close is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Anyone responsible for a site like Highbury Infant School and Nursery will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you own a rental within reach of Hitchin station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Charlton is about 1 mile south-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. If you are in Charlton, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Milton Keynes.
All of SG5 is within our area for gutter surveys. If you’re just outside Charlton, we cover Gosmore (1 mile south-east), Hitchin (1 mile north-east), Benslow (1 mile north-east), Bearton (1 mile north) and Westmill (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles south-east), St Albans (13 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south), Harpenden (9 miles south) and Hatfield (12 miles south).
Landmarks near Charlton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Hitchin Boys' School, The Three Moorhens Public House and Kingshott School. The closest station to Charlton is Hitchin station, roughly 1.4 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include North Hertfordshire Museum (0.8 miles north-east) and Lister Hospital (3.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Markham's Hill and Oughtonhead Nature Reserve.
About our gutter survey in Charlton
Damp on walls, water marks under a valley or streaks down the brickwork can frequently be traced to the gutters. Our gutter survey helps show whether the rainwater system is the cause, as far as can be seen safely. If the evidence points elsewhere, such as a flashing or the roof covering, we’ll say so, with a suggested next step. We survey valley gutters, parapet and box gutters and downpipes, and people most often book us about leaks at the gutter joints and fascia boards damaged by overflowing water.
In a small place like Charlton, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
What you get is a clear record of the gutter on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Charlton (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Charlton: your questions answered
I let a flat near Hitchin station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Do you cover smaller places like Charlton?
Yes. Charlton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How much time does the visit need?
It usually takes an hour or two at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. You will know roughly how long when we arrange the visit.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Can the survey be at a weekend?
Yes, weekend visits are possible as well as weekdays. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens after the survey?
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.
Do you survey underground drains?
No, CCTV drain work is not part of this survey. We check gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows and flags signs of a drain problem.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Charlton
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
How we price gutter surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Which survey package you book
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
Gutter survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It is useful to include:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Watch ceilings under valley gutters for fresh marks
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Do not climb a ladder to look in the gutters
You receive a written report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency where relevant. You can pass it to whoever you choose to do the work so they know what needs doing.
Do not forget valley, parapet and box gutters. They block in the same way as the gutters you can see but they’re much harder to spot, so make sure they’re included in any clearing work.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Clearing gutters removes the debris, but it doesn’t tell you why a gutter overflows. We also check the falls, joints, brackets, outlets and downpipes, so you know whether there is more to it. Older cottages and farmhouses around Charlton can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Charlton
- Every finding written up with photos
- Visits on any day of the week
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Charlton can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We ask about overflows, damp or leaks you’ve noticed.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are checked from ground level and vantage points.
- Any valley, parapet or box gutters are looked at as far as safe access allows.
- The loft space is checked for water marks if it’s safe to get into.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron gutters and downpipes are found on many older buildings. Kept painted, they can last a long time but corrode once the paint wears off.
Aluminium and other metal gutters
Metal gutters can suffer at joints and where different metals meet. Any leaks or corrosion we spot go in the report.