Hertfordshire · London and the South East
The Folly New Roof Snagging
New roof snagging in The Folly, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Cracked mortar at the ridge or hips
- Broken coverings left on a new roof
- Offcuts and broken tiles left behind
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Keep the contract and invoices together
- Check before your warranty period ends
- Check the roof before you pay in full
- Watch for gutters overflowing in rain
Questions about the findings are welcome. With the Standard Survey there is a follow-up consultation and Premium an in-person consultation.
Keep the final payment until the roof has been checked if your contract allows it. It keeps the job open until it is right.
New roof snagging in The Folly
We report on what we see with photos and plain descriptions. Any dispute about the work is between you and your roofer or builder. Our report gives you an independent record to refer to. The report does not price repairs or settle who is responsible, but it describes what we saw in plain terms. We survey loft conversions and dormers, ridges and verges and replacement roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are loose or badly finished ridge tiles and verge tiles or slates not secured.
In a village or hamlet like The Folly, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- The Folly (AL4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to The Folly
More services for The Folly
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys
Lead or other valley linings should be laid and lapped neatly where they can be seen.
Slate roofs
Cracked slates are sometimes left in place. They’re photographed for the report.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A minor snag left alone can turn into a leak. A slipped verge tile or a loose flashing may let water through during the first winter. Finding them early means they can be dealt with quickly. For an older or listed building in a place like The Folly, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in The Folly
- Photos and a written report every time
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
New roof snagging in The Folly: local notes
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. Shaw's Corner, about 2 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around The Folly. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Helen's Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Harpenden station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
The Folly is about 2 miles east of Harpenden, in Hertfordshire. We carry out new roof snagging in The Folly for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes The Folly and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
All of AL4 is covered for new roof snagging, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer new roof snagging to properties on Folly Fields and Lower Luton Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for new roof snagging include Lea Valley (1 mile west), Amwell (1 mile south), Mackerye End (1 mile north-west), Blackmore End (1 mile north) and Batford (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Watford (11 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (8 miles south-west), Stevenage (8 miles north-east), St Albans (5 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles east) and Hitchin (9 miles north).
Local landmarks in The Folly
Around The Folly, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Sir John Lawes School and The Cherry Trees pub. The Folly’s nearest station is Harpenden station, about 2 miles west. A little further out are St Albans City Hospital (4.2 miles south) and Harpenden Museum (2.2 miles west). For a walk, there is Wheathampstead Local Nature Reserve.
What this survey cannot tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- What’s under the new coverings
- A promise that the roof won’t leak
- Estimates of what fixes will cost
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- New flat roofs
- Replacement roofs
- New-build homes
- Ridges and verges
- Loft conversions and dormers
- Flashings and valleys
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in The Folly. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What happens on the day
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how much new work there is to check. In a small place like The Folly, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First, we note any deadlines and concerns.
- We inspect as far as safe access allows.
- Each detail at ridges, verges, valleys and flashings is looked at.
- Debris and damage to other parts are recorded.
- We send a written report you can pass on.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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The Folly: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in The Folly?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to The Folly?
Yes. The Folly is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Can you inspect the roof on a new-build home?
Yes. We inspect the roof as far as it can be seen safely and photograph what we find. Book before the defects period runs out if you can.
Do you get involved if the roofer disagrees with the report?
No. We report on what we see. Any dispute is between you and your roofer or builder, and the report gives you a clear record to refer to.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
How soon after the work should I book a snagging inspection?
Before the final payment is best so snags can be raised while the job is still open. Otherwise, book before your defects or warranty period runs out.
How much time does a snagging visit need?
Most house visits take about 1–2 hours with commercial roofs nearer 3–4 hours.