Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Hatfield
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hatfield and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Flashings that have lifted or split
What we’re asked to look at in Hatfield
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 we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Landlords with a home close to Hatfield station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What follow-up you get after the report
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hatfield
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs frequently passed on through the service charge. We check as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. If you are worried about quick fixes on flashings and valleys and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on natural slate, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles alike.
In a town like Hatfield, older streets typically sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you are buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have, from fixings and underlay to ridges and valleys. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
After the visit, you get a written report with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Hatfield (AL10, AL9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Hatfield
Other services in Hatfield
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Hatfield
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
Hatfield: your questions answered
Is Hatfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Hatfield is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hatfield?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Hatfield
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What’s prompted the survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Why get it checked now?
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. In a family home in Hatfield, a small roof fault lets water into places you cannot see, like the loft insulation, the top of a wall or the roof timbers. By the time a stain appears on a ceiling, there is more to put right.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Buying a home or a new roof in Hatfield
Hatfield is one of the post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. Low pitches, ageing concrete tiles and old flat roofs each have their own weak points, worth knowing before you commit. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Hatfield House, about 1 mile east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hatfield. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. The streets around a church such as Church of St Luke are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Hatfield is about 4 miles east of St Albans, in Hertfordshire. Anywhere in Hatfield, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Hatfield is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work. We also survey roofs in London.
We work across the AL10 and AL9 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Market Place, Bishop Square and Fiddle Bridge Lane, and we cover them all. You’ll find Hatfield on the A414 and B197, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Smallford (2 miles west), Colney Heath (2 miles south-west), Sleapshyde (2 miles south-west), Stanborough (2 miles north) and Cooper's Green (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Watford (10 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (10 miles west), Stevenage (10 miles north), St Albans (4 miles west), Welwyn Garden City (3 miles north-east) and Harpenden (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Hatfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near Stanborough Park and The Cat and Fiddle pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Hatfield station, about 0.7 miles east. A little further out are Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (2.4 miles north-east) and Howard Centre (2.9 miles north-east). Open spaces near Hatfield include Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve.
What we do, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a visit in Hatfield, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. Mention gates, side passages and anything at the back. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. You will have a price before anything is arranged.