Greater London · London and the South East
Collier Row Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Collier Row, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Collier Row: what you get
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 roof space where it’s safe to get in. You get a written report with photos. Typical surveys look at gutters choked with leaves and moss and damp timbers or stains in the loft, on the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys.
In London, lots of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Every alteration brings new junctions, flashings and flat-roof areas to look at. For a purchase in Collier Row, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a careful look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Collier Row (RM1, RM5, RM7)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Collier Row
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Which survey package you book
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What happens on the day
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes an hour or two at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a London area like Collier Row, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
What we are asked to look at in Collier Row
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we check.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If you let a flat or house near Romford station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their insurance cover
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Buying a home or a new roof in Collier Row
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Historic houses like Hare Hall, about 1.7 miles east, show how far back building around Collier Row goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. For a London address like Collier Row, it’s useful to know about controlled parking before the day.
Collier Row is about 1 mile north of Romford, in Greater London. We cover Collier Row and the rest of Greater London. Our area takes in places right across Greater London. You can also see our page for London.
We work across RM1, RM5 and RM7 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Elm Road, Percy Road and Seymer Road. We also cover the places around Collier Row: Rise Park (1 mile north-east), Romford (1 mile south), Marks Gate (1 mile west), Chadwell Heath (2 miles south-west) and Rush Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover London (13 miles south-west), City of Westminster (15 miles west), Marylebone (15 miles west), St Pancras (13 miles west), Shoreditch (12 miles south-west) and Walthamstow (8 miles west).
What’s near Collier Row
Typical jobs here are in homes near Colley Rowe Inn, Marshalls Park Academy and Raphael Park. For rail, the closest station is Romford station, about 1.3 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Romford Shopping Hall (1 mile south) and Oldchurch Hospital (1.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Bedfords Park.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Questions from Collier Row
Is my home in Collier Row listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Collier Row?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Also near Collier Row
Also in Collier Row
Surveys for landlords and agents in Collier Row
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.