Roof survey London

Roof surveys in London

We survey roofs in every part of Greater London, from inner boroughs packed with Victorian terraces to the 1930s semis and post-war estates of the outer suburbs. Most people call us because they’re buying, because water is coming in, or because they manage a building and need an honest picture of its roof. Our pre-purchase roof survey, roof leak investigation and landlord roof survey pages explain each one.

An independent survey means the person looking at your roof has nothing to gain from what they find. You get a written report with photographs that explains the condition of the roof, the defects we could see and what we recommend, in order of urgency. Two real London jobs show how that works in practice: a Victorian terrace in Islington and a five-storey office in Camden, both on our case studies page.

Slate terraces, butterfly roofs and mansion blocks

Much of inner London is Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing, and those roofs follow a familiar pattern. Many are covered in Welsh slate. Plenty have a butterfly (London) roof, two slopes falling to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house, hidden behind a parapet wall at the front. Party-wall upstands, shared chimney stacks and the small roofs over rear additions all add joints where water can get in. Slate itself can last a very long time, but the nails holding it often corrode first, so slates slip. Our guide to butterfly roofs and valley gutters covers the usual weak points.

On the Islington terrace in our case studies, a pre-purchase survey found slipped slates, chimney flashing problems and blocked gutters, and thermal imaging was used as part of the survey. The buyer used the report to negotiate about £8,500 of repairs with the seller.

Mansion blocks, mansard loft conversions and flat-roofed rear extensions bring their own faults: tired lead, split felt, ponding on flat tops and dormer cheeks that let water in. Further out, interwar semis often have clay or concrete tiles, and post-war estates have plenty of flat roofs over garages, porches and whole blocks.

Our services in London

• Pre-purchase roof survey (from £150): Before you exchange: the roof’s condition, defects and what to raise with the seller, in a written report with photos.
• Roof survey (from £150): A full look at coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the roof space, with written recommendations.
• Roof leak investigation (from £150): Tracing where water is getting in, using moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help.
• Drone roof survey (from £400): Close-up photos of roofs that are tall, steep or hard to reach, flown by a CAA-registered operator with airspace checked first.
• Flat roof survey (from £150): Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply roofs on extensions, garages, flats, offices and units.
• Thermal imaging roof survey (from £400): Thermal images that can point to trapped moisture or missing insulation, checked against moisture readings.
• Chimney survey (from £150): Stacks, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, including leaning and redundant stacks.
• Storm damage roof report (from £150): An independent record of storm damage, with photos, for you to give your insurer.
• Gutter survey (from £150): Gutters, valleys, parapet and box gutters, outlets and downpipes, and why they overflow.
• Landlord roof survey (from £150): Roof condition reports for landlords, managing agents and freeholders, to plan maintenance.
• New roof snagging (from £150): A check of a new or replacement roof for snags before you make the final payment.
• Electronic leak detection (quoted for your roof): Electronic testing to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes.

Why Independent Roof Survey in London

We have more than 20 years’ experience, have completed 5,000+ surveys and have 98% customer satisfaction. We use drones and thermal imaging where they help, and we carry professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Reports arrive within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, in 24–48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey; see pricing for what each includes.

Around London

From the centre, the nearest railway station is Elephant & Castle station. Well-known places nearby include Gabriel's Wharf (0.8 miles north-west), Surrey Dispensary (less than half a mile south-east) and Museum of Life Sciences (less than half a mile north-east). Around the centre, we survey roofs on homes, rented flats and businesses close to Charles Dickens Primary School, Ark Globe Academy, London School of Musical Theatre and St George the Martyr. Green spaces within reach include Bellenden Road Nature Garden and Tower Hill.