Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Walkern Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Walkern, with photos and a clear written report.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Walkern
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’re worried about damp timbers or stains in the loft and flashings that have lifted or split, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate alike.
Older buildings in small places like Walkern may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Place
- Walkern (SG2)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Walkern
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we look at each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Walkern
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Common questions in Walkern
Is my home in Walkern listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover smaller places like Walkern?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
What you can safely check yourself
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
How it works
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Cottages and farmhouses around Walkern frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Nearby places to Walkern
What else we do in Walkern
Walkern homes and their roofs
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
With Aston Bury about 2.9 miles south, the area around Walkern has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. For landlords with property near Stevenage station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. For an older house near a landmark like Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Walkern is about 2 miles east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Walkern can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire. There’s also a page for Milton Keynes.
Surveys in SG2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on High Street, Walchra Court and Yew Tree Close and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Aston End (2 miles south-west), Chells (2 miles west), St Nicholas (2 miles west), Stevenage (2 miles west) and Pin Green (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as St Albans (14 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (13 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (12 miles south-west), Hitchin (6 miles west) and Hoddesdon (12 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Walkern
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Nobel School and The Robin Hood Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Stevenage station, roughly 3.6 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find Lister Hospital (3.6 miles west) and Stevenage Museum (3.3 miles west). The countryside around Walkern includes Pryor's Wood.