Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Markyate
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Markyate. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Markyate
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. If you’re worried about lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and chimney mortar that has eroded, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Smaller places like Markyate often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you’re buying in Markyate or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Markyate (AL3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Markyate
The flight restriction zone around Luton Airport comes within about 2 miles of Markyate. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the exact boundary for the address before flying. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
Take an older house close to Markyate Methodist Church: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Markyate is in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in Markyate is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
Every address in AL3 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on High Street, London Road and Sebright Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Markyate: Roe End (1 mile south-west), Flamstead (2 miles south-east), Friar's Wash (2 miles south-east) and Trowley Bottom (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Watford (12 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (6 miles south), Stevenage (13 miles north-east), St Albans (8 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (12 miles east) and Harpenden (5 miles east).
Near you in Markyate
In Markyate, that means homes and buildings near The Local pub, among other places. The closest station to Markyate is Luton Airport Parkway station, roughly 3.8 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Mossman Collection (2.6 miles north-east) and Luton Castle (3.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Markyate includes Landpark Wood.
Towns and villages near Markyate
Also in Markyate
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
What we cannot see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Markyate
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Markyate
Are there drone restrictions around Markyate?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. The flight restriction zone around Luton Airport comes within about 2 miles of Markyate. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
How do I find out if my home in Markyate is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How do I book a survey in Markyate?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
What we do, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. On timing, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Markyate, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
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.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Markyate?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It’s a frequent finding on older houses.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If you own a rental within reach of Luton Airport Parkway station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before you book
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What insurance they carry
Useful tips for Markyate property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.