Greater London · London and the South East
Balham Roof Survey
Independent roof surveys in Balham. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
How a roof survey works in Balham
People book a roof survey for all sorts of reasons. Some have seen a mark on a ceiling or bits of tile in the garden, others want a check before selling or after years without one. Whatever the reason, the survey works the same way: a careful look, then a clear written report. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, so finding a time is rarely difficult. We survey flat roofs, lead flashings and clay and concrete tiles, and people most frequently book us about torn or sagging underlay and cracked mortar along the ridge.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in Balham with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Balham (SW12, SW17, SW4)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Balham
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Balham has a long history of building, with Carlyle's House about 2.9 miles north. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Homes near green spaces such as Wandsworth Common can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Anyone responsible for a site like Ravenstone Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Landlords with a home close to Balham station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Balham is about 2 miles south-west of Stockwell, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Balham, we can carry out roof surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small.
All of SW12, SW17 and SW4 is covered for roof surveys. Whether your property is on Lynn Road, Weir Road and Byrne Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Grange Mills (1 mile north-east), Hyde farm estate (1 mile east), Clapham Park (1 mile north-east), Streatham Park (1 mile south-east) and Tooting Bec (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (5 miles north-east), City of Westminster (5 miles north), Marylebone (5 miles north), Kensington (4 miles north-west), St Pancras (6 miles north) and Shoreditch (7 miles north-east).
Near you in Balham
We work in homes and buildings around Oak Lodge School, Wandsworth Common and The Bedford pub, among other places. There’s a railway station in Balham itself: Balham station. Well-known places in the area include St James' Hospital (0.5 miles west) and London Sewing Machine Museum (0.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Knight's Hill and Battersea Park Lake.
Nearby places to Balham
Also in Balham
What we cannot see
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
What affects the cost of roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- When you need the report by
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Useful tips for Balham property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Check the roof from the ground after storms
- Keep the report with your property records
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
File the report with your other home documents. It is a useful baseline for future surveys, and it can help when you sell.
Look at your roof from the ground after strong winds. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Prompt repairs stop small problems growing.
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Surveys in Balham can be booked for any day of the week. London parking is often by permit or pay-and-display, so it’s useful to know what’s near you, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Advice
Questions from Balham
Can a landlord with a rental near Balham station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Balham?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We send it by email.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Checking the roof from ground level
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.