Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Plaistow, Greater London
A careful look at the roof at your property in Plaistow, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
The survey, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a London area like Plaistow, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. On the day, the roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space and from the roof where it’s safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Plaistow, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Plaistow
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. If you’re worried about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes alike.
In a London terrace or conversion, the roof often joins the neighbours’ roofs and shares their stacks and gutters. For a purchase or a new roof in Plaistow, that shapes what can be checked: only the parts we’re given access to and can see safely are inspected. For a flat, the lease normally says who looks after the roof.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Plaistow (E13, E16, E6)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Plaistow
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Any roof job in Plaistow means planning around parking, neighbours and access. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly, rather than in a rush after a leak.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- Every finding written up with photos
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Buying a home or a new roof in Plaistow
The flight restriction zone around London City Airport covers Plaistow, or comes right up to its edge. If your survey includes the drone, permission from the airport is needed first, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. The wider area around Plaistow has a long history of building, with Queen's House about 3.2 miles south. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church like Memorial Community Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you own a rental within reach of West Ham station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Plaistow is about 5 miles east of London, in Greater London. Plaistow is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Greater London, we cover Plaistow and the places around it.
We survey roofs across E13, E16 and E6 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Eve Road, Ivy Road and May Road, and we cover them all. Being close to the A1011, Plaistow is easy for us to reach for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover the places around Plaistow: Greengate (1 mile north-east), Canning Town (1 mile south), Upton Park (1 mile north-east), West Ham (1 mile north-west) and Upton (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (7 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (4 miles west).
Near you in Plaistow
Typical jobs here are in homes near Keir Hardie Park, The Service for Deaf and Partially Hearing Children and The Earl Of Derby Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Plaistow is West Ham station, roughly 0.9 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Newham University Hospital (0.5 miles east) and Greenwich Castle (3.4 miles south). The countryside around Plaistow includes Old Ford Island and Hollow Pond.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
Common questions in Plaistow
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Plaistow?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Plaistow?
It can be, so it helps to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Honest limits
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Towns and villages near Plaistow
More services for Plaistow
When to book a survey in Plaistow
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. We check them as part of the survey.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
As a London address, Plaistow can be tricky for parking: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What experience they bring
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID