Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Broad Colney
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Broad Colney and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Broad Colney
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are flashings that have lifted or split and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
Some older homes in villages like Broad Colney are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Broad Colney (AL2)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Height and safe access
- The size of the roof
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
Getting in touch
These details help when you get in touch:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- When you need the report by
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
How it works
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then 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. Rural addresses near Broad Colney can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Buying a home or a new roof in Broad Colney
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Broad Colney has a long history of building, with High Elms Manor about 4.1 miles west. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Broad Colney is about 3 miles south-east of St Albans, in Hertfordshire. Anywhere in Broad Colney, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Broad Colney is one of the places in Hertfordshire we cover. You can also see our page for London.
Here we cover the AL2 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you’re just outside Broad Colney, we cover London Colney (1 mile north), Shenleybury (1 mile south-east), Tyttenhanger (2 miles north), Sleapshyde (3 miles north-east) and Colney Heath (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (6 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (7 miles west), Stevenage (14 miles north), St Albans (3 miles north-west), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles north-east) and Harpenden (7 miles north).
Near you in Broad Colney
Around Broad Colney, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The White Lion pub and Samuel Ryder Academy, among other places. Broad Colney’s nearest station is Park Street station, about 1.9 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Hilfield Castle (4.5 miles south) and Radlett and District Museum (2.5 miles south). Not far away are Verulamium Lake and Broad Colney Lakes.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Broad Colney
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For landlords with property near Park Street station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the survey won’t cover
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Broad Colney
Do you carry out roof surveys in Broad Colney?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How do I find out if my home in Broad Colney is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
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, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.