Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Aldersbrook
A careful look at the roof at your property in Aldersbrook, with photographs and a written report.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Aldersbrook
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. If you’ve noticed ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes alike.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in Aldersbrook might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Aldersbrook (E11, E12, E7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Aldersbrook
Aldersbrook is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London City Airport. If your survey includes the drone, the exact boundary is checked for the address first. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
For landlords with property near Wanstead Park station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Aldersbrook is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised. If you live in an older home near Church of St Gabriel, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Aldersbrook is about 1 mile north of Forest Gate, in Greater London. We visit Aldersbrook as part of our work across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Greater London. There’s also a page for London.
Here we cover the E11, E12 and E7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Dover Road, Merlin Road and Belfry Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Aldersbrook sits on or near the A116. We also cover the places around Aldersbrook: Bushwood Area of Leytonstone (1 mile west), Forest Gate (1 mile south), Wanstead (1 mile north), Leytonstone (1 mile west) and Redbridge (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (7 miles south-west), City of Westminster (9 miles south-west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (11 miles south-west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Aldersbrook
Typical jobs here are in homes near The George pub, Valentines Park and Tyndale Academy, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Wanstead Park station, about 0.9 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Wanstead Hospital (1.5 miles north) and Passmore Edwards Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Aldersbrook include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
Useful tips for Aldersbrook property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Let us know your timetable
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photos to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Towns and villages near Aldersbrook
What else we do in Aldersbrook
Aldersbrook: your questions answered
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Aldersbrook?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport comes within about 2 miles of Aldersbrook. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Is my home in Aldersbrook listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How do I book a survey in Aldersbrook?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Landlords, agents and block managers in Aldersbrook
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Aldersbrook
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How big the roof is
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos. On timing, it normally takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a visit in Aldersbrook, parking and access are the things to plan: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from the ground, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.