Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in High Cross, Hertfordshire
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in High Cross and across Hertfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around High Cross often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in High Cross
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’ve noticed gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks alike.
Older buildings in small places like High Cross may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- High Cross (SG11)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near High Cross
Also in High Cross
Questions from High Cross
Does a conservation area affect roof work in High Cross?
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.
Is High Cross in the area you cover?
Yes, High Cross is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in High Cross as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
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 it applies.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in High Cross
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which matters if work is needed.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Much Hadham Palace, about 4.2 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around High Cross. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
Pre-purchase roof surveys around High Cross
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
Landlords with a home close to Ware station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St John the Evangelist, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
High Cross is about 2 miles north of Ware, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in High Cross across London and South East England. High Cross is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We work across SG11 for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on North Drive, Chestnut Grove and Poplar Close or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Wadesmill (1 mile south-west), Standon Green End (1 mile north), Thundridge (1 mile south), Cold Christmas (1 mile south-east) and Barwick (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (8 miles north-west), St Albans (15 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (8 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles south-west), Harpenden (14 miles west) and Hitchin (13 miles north-west).
What’s near High Cross
Around High Cross, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The White Horse Inn and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Ware station, roughly 2.8 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Museum of Street Lighting (3.4 miles south) and Hertford County Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near High Cross include King's Meads.
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- The property’s address and postcode
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
What this survey cannot tell you
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we cannot promise any result.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.