Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Braughing, Hertfordshire
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Braughing. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Braughing
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side. Common reasons to book are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and standing water on a flat extension roof, across natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Braughing are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Braughing (SG11)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Braughing
Is Braughing within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you cover Braughing?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Braughing is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
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.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home 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. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
How quickly will I get the report?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Tips that help
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Nearby places to Braughing
What else we do in Braughing
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Roof area
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Helping us price your survey
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- When you need the report by
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Braughing
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. With Much Hadham Palace about 4 miles south-east, Braughing sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Braughing is about 6 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in Braughing is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the SG11 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on The Street, Pentlows and Northfield and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Hay Street (1 mile north-west), Westmill (2 miles north-west), Albury (2 miles east), Gravesend (3 miles east) and Furneux Pelham (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (9 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (6 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (12 miles south-west), Hitchin (13 miles west), Hoddesdon (11 miles south) and Cheshunt (14 miles south).
Landmarks near Braughing
In Braughing, that means homes and buildings near The Axe And Compasses Public House and the streets around them. Nearby you’ll also find Moated mound (3.7 miles east).
How the survey works
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Braughing can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.