Greater London · London and the South East
New Roof Snagging in Friern Barnet
Find out the condition of the new roof at your property in Friern Barnet from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gutters blocked by building debris
- Poorly finished verges
- Ridge and hip tiles not properly fixed
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take between one and two hours for a typical new house roof, longer where the roof is large or complicated. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when booking.
- First, you let us know what the roofer did and any concerns you have.
- The new coverings, ridge, hips and verges are inspected where it is safe to see them.
- We check valleys, flashings and gutters, and the underlay at the eaves where it’s visible.
- We look in the roof space, where there’s safe access, and around the property for debris or damage.
- The snags are written up with photos for you to share with your roofer.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
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How new roof snagging works in Friern Barnet
A snag is a fault or unfinished detail left when work is done. On a roof, snags are often at the edges and junctions, where the detailing is hardest. We check everything we can see safely and photograph each snag. Loose ridges, untidy verges, badly dressed flashings and leftover debris are typical snags. We survey new-build homes, new flat roofs and ridges and verges, and the problems we are asked to look at most are vents that weren’t fitted or are covered and untidy or loose verge details.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Friern Barnet might be any of these. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Place
- Friern Barnet (N11, N12, N10, N20)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Estimates of what fixes will cost
- What’s under the new coverings
- Details hidden from sight
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Friern Barnet
- New-build homes
- Loft conversions and dormers
- New flat roofs
- Flashings and valleys
- Ridges and verges
- Replacement roofs
Common roof problems in Friern Barnet
Scaffolding and materials can damage other parts of a building. A snagging check looks around the property as well as at the roof.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Flashings not properly dressed or fixed
- Untidy or loose verge details
- Tiles or slates sitting out of line
- Offcuts and broken tiles left behind
If you let a flat or house near New Southgate station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What exactly goes into their report
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
Also near Friern Barnet
Other services in Friern Barnet
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check ceilings and the loft after heavy rain
- Tell your roofer the work will be inspected
- Diary the defects period end date
- Put any issues to your roofer in writing
Once the snags have been dealt with, keep the report with your roof paperwork. It records the roof’s condition at that point.
Do not settle the final bill until the roof has been inspected if your contract allows it. It gives the roofer a reason to finish everything.
Different roofs, different checks
Ridges, hips and verges
The top and edges of a roof are the most exposed. Bedding, dry-fix pieces and fixings are looked at where visible.
Slate roofs
On a new slate roof, we check the coursing and the details at ridges, verges and valleys as far as can safely be seen.
Friern Barnet questions
Do you cover Friern Barnet?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Friern Barnet as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Friern Barnet?
It rarely stops a survey, but it is worth planning. Tell us what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
Do you get involved if the roofer disagrees with the report?
No, we report on the roof and do not take sides. Any dispute stays between you and your roofer or builder though our report gives you the facts we saw.
Which parts of the roof does snagging cover?
Everything we can see safely, from the ridge and verges down to the eaves and gutters. We look in the loft where it is safe, and we note any mess or damage left after the work.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Friern Barnet homes and their roofs
Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Historic houses such as Heath Hall, about 2.7 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Friern Barnet goes. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to St John's Church: older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Friern Barnet is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when booking, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
Friern Barnet is about 2 miles north-east of Finchley, in Greater London. Bookings from Friern Barnet are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in London.
Every address in N11, N12, N10 and N20 is covered for new roof snagging. We offer new roof snagging to properties on Martock Gardens, Shapwick Close and Radstock Close. You’ll find Friern Barnet on the A406 and B550, which makes it simple to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in New Southgate (1 mile east), Brunswick Park (1 mile north), North Finchley (1 mile west), Arnos Grove (1 mile east) and Whetstone (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (8 miles south), City of Westminster (7 miles south), Marylebone (7 miles south), Kensington (8 miles south), St Pancras (6 miles south) and Shoreditch (7 miles south-east).
Near you in Friern Barnet
In Friern Barnet, that means homes and buildings near Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum, Friary Park and Friern Barnet School and the streets around them. Friern Barnet has its own railway station: New Southgate station. Well-known places in the area include Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum (1.4 miles west) and Grand Arcade (1 mile west). The countryside around Friern Barnet includes Highgate Hill and Darland's Lake.