Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in The Folly, Hertfordshire
Pre-purchase roof surveys across The Folly, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
About our pre-purchase roof survey in The Folly
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. Common reasons to book are lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, across flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and clay and concrete tiles.
For a small place like The Folly, 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 booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- The Folly (AL4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
What you get with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- 20+ years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Also near The Folly
More services for The Folly
Pre-purchase roof surveys in The Folly: local notes
The flight restriction zone around Luton Airport comes within about 2 miles of The Folly. Where the drone is part of the survey, the exact boundary is checked for the address first. Historic houses such as Shaw's Corner, about 2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around The Folly goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Harpenden station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
The Folly is about 2 miles east of Harpenden, in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in The Folly is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Across Hertfordshire, we cover The Folly and the places around it. There is also a page for London.
All of AL4 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Folly Fields and Lower Luton Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around The Folly: Lea Valley (1 mile west), Amwell (1 mile south), Mackerye End (1 mile north-west), Blackmore End (1 mile north) and Batford (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Watford (11 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (8 miles south-west), Stevenage (8 miles north-east), St Albans (5 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles east) and Hitchin (9 miles north).
What’s near The Folly
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Sir John Lawes School and The Cherry Trees pub and the streets around them. The Folly’s nearest station is Harpenden station, about 2 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St Albans City Hospital (4.2 miles south) and Harpenden Museum (2.2 miles west). Open spaces near The Folly include Wheathampstead Local Nature Reserve.
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Around The Folly, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Advice
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Common roof problems in The Folly
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Blocked or leaking gutters
For an older house near a landmark like St Helen's Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before booking anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Will the report include photos?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What insurance they carry
The Folly: your questions answered
Are there drone restrictions around The Folly?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. The Folly is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Luton Airport. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Is my home in The Folly listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in The Folly
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate