Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Chipperfield and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chipperfield
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and the roof space, and the problems we are asked to look at most are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
In a village or hamlet like Chipperfield, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. 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, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Chipperfield (WD4, WD3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Common questions in Chipperfield
Do you carry out roof surveys in Chipperfield?
Yes, Chipperfield is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Chipperfield is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It typically takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Buying a home or a new roof in Chipperfield
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Paul, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. If you own a rental within reach of Apsley station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Chenies Manor House, about 2.9 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chipperfield. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Chipperfield is about 3 miles south of Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. We visit Chipperfield as part of our work across Hertfordshire, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Chipperfield and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
We work across WD4 and WD3 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on The Street, Alexandra Road and Chapel Croft and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Chipperfield: Whippendell Bottom (1 mile east), Rucklers Lane (2 miles north-east), Kings Langley (2 miles east), Felden (2 miles north-east) and Apsley (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (5 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (3 miles north), St Albans (8 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles north-east), Harpenden (10 miles north-east) and Hatfield (12 miles east).
What’s near Chipperfield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Two Brewers Inn. The closest station to Chipperfield is Apsley station, roughly 2.1 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Hemel Hempstead Hospital (3.1 miles north). The countryside around Chipperfield includes Sarratt Bottom nature reserve.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Which survey package you book
- House, block, shop or office
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
What we cannot see
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
Why get it checked now?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you are tied in. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chipperfield, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Why us?
- Prices that include VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Places near Chipperfield
Other services in Chipperfield
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Chipperfield, 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.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Let us know about parking before the day
Booking a survey
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.