Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Burn's Green
A careful look at the roof at your property in Burn's Green, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burn's Green
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where it’s safe to get in. You get a report with photographs. We survey gutters and downpipes, the roof space and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
In a village or hamlet like Burn's Green, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Where
- Burn's Green (SG2)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Burn's Green questions
Do you cover smaller places like Burn's Green?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Burn's Green?
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.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
What you can safely check yourself
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Why it is worth a survey now in Burn's Green
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit seven days a week, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. For an older or listed building in a place like Burn's Green, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Over 20 years’ experience
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
Also near Burn's Green
Also in Burn's Green
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Around Burn's Green, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Landlords, agents and block managers in Burn's Green
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Burn's Green homes and their roofs
About 2.1 miles west lies Aston Bury, a reminder of how long the area around Burn's Green has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you let a flat or house near Watton-At-Stone station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Peter, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Burn's Green is about 4 miles south-east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Bookings from Burn's Green are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. There is also a page for London.
We work across the SG2 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Burn's Green include Whempstead (1 mile south-east), Dane End (2 miles south-east), Haultwick (2 miles east), Sacombe (2 miles south-east) and Sacombe Green (3 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Stevenage (4 miles north-west), St Albans (14 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (11 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles south-west), Harpenden (12 miles south-west) and Hitchin (9 miles north-west).
Around Burn's Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bell Public House, among other places. The closest station to Burn's Green is Watton-At-Stone station, roughly 2.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Datchworth Museum (3.7 miles south-west) and Lister Hospital (5.4 miles north-west). Not far away are Astonbury Wood.
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.