Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Temple Dinsley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Temple Dinsley. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Temple Dinsley: what you get
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Common reasons to book are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, across natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings and valleys.
Being in a small place like Temple Dinsley makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Temple Dinsley (SG4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take an hour or two at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Temple Dinsley can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
What we’re asked to look at in Temple Dinsley
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Problems we come across often include:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
The streets around a church like Church of St Martin are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Why get it checked now?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Around Temple Dinsley, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Why book with us
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
See our cost guide and our case studies.
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
FAQs for Temple Dinsley
Are there drone restrictions around Temple Dinsley?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around Luton Airport comes within about 2 miles of Temple Dinsley. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
How do I find out if my home in Temple Dinsley 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.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access as you book.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we cannot promise any saving.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Local roofs and buyers in Temple Dinsley
Knebworth House, about 3.5 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Temple Dinsley. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If you let a flat or house near Stevenage station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Temple Dinsley is about 3 miles south of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Surveys in Temple Dinsley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Temple Dinsley. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
We cover every part of SG4 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on St Albans Highway and Hitchwood Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Temple Dinsley: Poynders End (1 mile north-east), Preston (1 mile west), Langley End (1 mile south-east), Little Almshoe (1 mile north-east) and St Ibbs (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles east), St Albans (11 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles south-east), Harpenden (7 miles south-west) and Hitchin (3 miles north).
What’s near Temple Dinsley
In Temple Dinsley, that means homes and buildings near The Red Lion Public House, among other places. Temple Dinsley’s nearest station is Stevenage station, about 2.9 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include North Hertfordshire Museum (2.9 miles north) and Lister Hospital (2.9 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Markham's Hill and Purwell Ninesprings.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.