Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Graveley
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Graveley, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Graveley
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most frequently book us about damp timbers or stains in the loft and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
Some older homes in villages like Graveley 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. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Location
- Graveley (SG4)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. It is enough to let us know:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The property’s address and postcode
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Graveley homes and their roofs
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Historic houses such as Knebworth House, about 4.4 miles south, show how far back building around Graveley goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Graveley is about 2 miles north-west of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Surveys in Graveley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. Graveley is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of SG4 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on High Street, Oak Lane and Ashwell Close or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Graveley: Todd's Green (1 mile south-west), Great Wymondley (1 mile north-west), Little Wymondley (1 mile west), Titmore Green (1 mile south-west) and Lower Titmore Green (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as St Albans (14 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (10 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south-west), Hitchin (3 miles west), Hoddesdon (15 miles south-east) and Hatfield (12 miles south).
Around Graveley
We work in homes and buildings around Waggon And Horses Public House, Church of Saint Nicholas and The John Henry Newman School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Stevenage station, about 2.4 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Wymondley Castle (1.1 miles west) and Stevenage Museum (2.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Purwell Ninesprings.
Nearby places to Graveley
More services for Graveley
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Graveley
Is Graveley in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Graveley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Graveley listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
How do I book a survey in Graveley?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
How long does the survey visit take?
It normally takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. In a small place like Graveley, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Graveley?
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We do not test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Landlords with a home close to Stevenage station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Are they insured for the work?
- How soon the report will arrive
The survey, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Graveley needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys