Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Margarets, Hertfordshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in St Margarets. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in St Margarets
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s frequently not the individual flat owner. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. Common reasons to book are cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, across gutters and downpipes, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles.
For a small place like St Margarets, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- St Margarets (SG12)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
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 take it from there. The survey itself takes an hour or two at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like St Margarets, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Useful tips for St Margarets property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
St Margarets questions
Do you cover St Margarets?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and St Margarets is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
How do I find out if my home in St Margarets is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
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. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
How long does the survey visit take?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Towns and villages near St Margarets
Also in St Margarets
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in St Margarets
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to tell us when you get in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it’s useful to mention:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The address and postcode of the property
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Why act early in St Margarets
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why book with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- A written report with photos
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in St Margarets: local notes
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church such as Parish Church of St Andrew are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. If you let a flat or house near St Margarets (Herts) station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
St Margarets is about 2 miles south-east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. If you are in St Margarets, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. London is in our area too.
Surveys in SG12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on Station Road, Woodham Way and Folly View. If you are just outside St Margarets, we cover Stanstead Abbotts (1 mile east), Great Amwell (1 mile north-west), Hailey (1 mile south-west), Little Amwell (1 mile west) and Woollensbrook (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Stevenage (11 miles north-west), St Albans (14 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (9 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles west), Harpenden (15 miles west) and Cheshunt (6 miles south).
Near you in St Margarets
We work in homes and buildings around The John Warner School and Jolly Fisherman Public House. There is a railway station in St Margarets itself: St Margarets (Herts) station. A little further out are Barrowfield (2.1 miles north-west) and Museum of Street Lighting (1 mile north-west). For a walk, there is Amwell Quarry.