Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Northaw Valley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Northaw Valley. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Questions from Northaw Valley
Will you come out to Northaw Valley?
Yes, Northaw Valley is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Northaw Valley is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
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.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Northaw Valley
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are blocked or leaking gutters and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys.
Older buildings in small places like Northaw Valley may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Northaw Valley (EN6)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, typically to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- House, block, shop or office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The address and postcode of the property
- When you need the report by
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere as small as Northaw Valley, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Northaw Valley
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Northaw Valley. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Northaw Valley
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Historic houses such as Wyllyotts Manor, about 2.4 miles west, show how far back building around Northaw Valley goes. 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. Landlords with a home close to Crews Hill 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 such as Parish Church of St Thomas A Becket, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Northaw Valley is about 2 miles east of Potters Bar, in Hertfordshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Northaw Valley for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Northaw Valley. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
All of EN6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Botany Bay (1 mile south-east), Potters Bar (2 miles west), Hadley Wood (3 miles south-west), Bentley Heath (3 miles west) and Cockfosters (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Watford (11 miles west), Hemel Hempstead (14 miles west), Stevenage (15 miles north), St Albans (9 miles north-west), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles north) and Harpenden (12 miles north-west).
Near you in Northaw Valley
Typical jobs here are in homes near Two Brewers Public House, Northaw Church of England Primary School and Mount Grace School. Northaw Valley’s nearest station is Crews Hill station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Spires Shopping Centre (3.8 miles south-west) and Chase Farm Hospital (2.3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Bowyer's Water and Fir and Pond Woods.