London and the South East

Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Hertfordshire

From the largest town to the smallest village in Hertfordshire, our roof surveyors can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys. Written reports with photos, and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Book a pre-purchase roof survey in Hertfordshire

Call 07833 053749

Book a survey

Where we work in Hertfordshire

Across Hertfordshire, that means a roof survey before you buy a house or flat. The lists below link to a page for each place.

Main towns

What else we do in Hertfordshire

Postcodes in Hertfordshire

Pre-purchase roof surveys across Hertfordshire: what to expect

Buyers in Hertfordshire and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Common reasons to book are chimney mortar that has eroded and gutters choked with leaves and moss, across the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.

Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time.

After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.

How our prices work

The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.

What you get with us

Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Surveys seven days a week
Two decades and more of roof surveys
Drones and thermal imaging where applicable

Arrange a survey

Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.

Local landmarks in Watford

We work in homes and buildings around The Estcourt Arms, Watford St John's Church of England Primary School and Church of St Andrew. Also close by are Cassiobury Park (0.8 miles west) and The Watford UTC (0.5 miles east). There is a railway station in Watford itself: Watford Junction station. Well-known places in the area include Hilfield Castle (2.8 miles east) and Charter Place (0.5 miles south). The countryside around Watford includes Harrow Weald Common.

Pre-purchase roof surveys across Hertfordshire: local notes

Homes across Hertfordshire range from older properties to new builds, and some older ones are listed or in conservation areas. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the roof’s condition before you commit makes sense.

Our surveys reach from London out to Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Essex, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Hertfordshire included. We survey on any day of the week.

Watford: The streets around a church such as Church of St Andrew are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. High Elms Manor, about 2.6 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Watford. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.

Checking the roof from ground level

Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.

A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.

What a survey doesn’t cover

No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:

Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Asbestos testing of any kind
What’s under the slates, tiles or felt

Landlord and commercial surveys in Hertfordshire

With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.

If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.

Tips from our surveys

These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:

Book once your offer is accepted
Ask for loft access on the day
Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
Ask whether there are papers for past roof work

If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.

Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.

Roof by roof

Chimney stacks

A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.

Natural slate

Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.

FAQs for Hertfordshire

Do you need access inside the house?

Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.

Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?

They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.

Does the weather affect the survey?

It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.

Do you test for asbestos?

No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.

How long have you been surveying roofs?

More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.

What insurance do you have?

Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.

Can you survey at the weekend?

Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.