Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Throcking
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Throcking and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Throcking 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 arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Pre-purchase roof survey in Throcking: what you get
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. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We survey natural slate, chimney stacks and the roof space, and people most frequently book us about gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and chimney mortar that has eroded.
Some older homes in villages like Throcking are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Throcking (SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Throcking
Is Throcking within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Is Throcking in the area you cover?
Yes, Throcking is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Request records of any re-roofing
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. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Throcking: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as Holy Trinity Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Throcking is about 6 miles north-east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Surveys in Throcking work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Throcking and the places around it. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the SG9 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Cottered (1 mile south-west), Chipping (1 mile north-east), Buntingford (2 miles east), Aspenden (2 miles south-east) and Layston (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (6 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (11 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (12 miles south-west), Hitchin (9 miles west), Hoddesdon (14 miles south) and Hatfield (15 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Throcking
Other landmarks nearby include Clothall Castle (4.1 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hawkins Wood.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Throcking
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Getting in touch
We will typically ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What else we do in Throcking
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
What we’re asked to look at in Throcking
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It’s often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Problems we come across often include:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Whatever the street in Throcking, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
What to check before booking
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their track record with similar roofs