Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ware, Hertfordshire
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Ware, with photos and a clear written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ware
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and the roof space, and people most often book us about worn or lifted lead flashings and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints.
Most homes in a town like Ware are houses, so the roof normally belongs to the property you’re buying or paying for. That makes the roof’s condition a straightforward money question: it’s better to know about it before exchange or before the final payment than afterwards. A written report with photos gives you specific points to raise with the seller or the roofer.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Ware (SG12, SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Other services in Ware
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Ware
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Christ Church Ware, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Ware is about 7 miles north-west of Harlow, in Hertfordshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Ware and the surrounding area. Ware is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in SG12 and SG9 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on High Street, Station Road and London Road and the roads around them. Main roads around Ware include the A10 and A119, which makes travel easy. Close by, we survey roofs in Thundridge (1 mile north), Cold Christmas (2 miles north-east), Wadesmill (2 miles north), Chapmore End (2 miles north-west) and Tonwell (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (9 miles north-west), St Albans (13 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (9 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles west), Harpenden (14 miles west) and Hitchin (14 miles north-west).
Near you in Ware
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Hertford Regional College, The Chauncy School and The Albion Public House. Ware has its own railway station: Ware station. Other landmarks nearby include Barrowfield (1.2 miles south-west) and Hertford County Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is King's Meads.
What we’re asked to look at in Ware
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
For landlords with property near Ware station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- When you’ll get the report
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before you book.
Booking your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Let us know your timetable
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A visit in Ware runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. Someone needs to let us in, so let us know who that will be.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Questions from Ware
Is Ware in the area you cover?
Yes, Ware is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ware?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.