Greater London · London and the South East
Barbican Estate Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a roof survey in Barbican Estate and across Greater London.
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
How a roof survey works in Barbican Estate
There are three levels of survey: a Basic Survey from £150, a Standard Survey from £250 and a Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. Basic is a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, like moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies. Each one comes with a written report. Typical surveys look at flashings that have come away from the wall and loose ridge or hip tiles, on flat roofs, natural slate and the roof space.
London has Victorian and Edwardian terraces in almost every borough, frequently with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. In Barbican Estate, as across London, that’s why a roof needs a careful look rather than a glance from the street. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a proper look too.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Barbican Estate (EC1V, EC2A, EC1Y)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Let us know about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
- Include dormers, porches and garages as you book
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
Where it helps, we say which items are urgent. Some faults need dealing with soon, while others can wait for planned work. That helps you decide what to do first.
Every so frequently, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
What happens on the day
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it is useful to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- We check the roof from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Barbican Estate
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Hidden gutters behind parapets and in valleys can send water indoors, especially near trees.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
Take a building like Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
What to check before booking
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Different roofs, different checks
Concrete interlocking tiles
Mortar at ridges and verges often cracks on tiled roofs. Loose ridges and gaps in the mortar are recorded.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal chimneys, walls and abutments. Lifted, split or slipped lead is recorded, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Barbican Estate: your questions answered
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Barbican Estate?
It can be, so it is useful to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Moorgate station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. Our survey looks at the condition of the roof, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It isn’t a structural engineer’s report and doesn’t include calculations.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Barbican Estate
Historic houses like Mansion House, about 0.5 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Barbican Estate goes. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you let a flat or house near Moorgate station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Trees in and around Barbican Conservatory shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
Barbican Estate is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. Whether the building in Barbican Estate is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Barbican Estate is one of the places in Greater London we cover.
All of EC1V, EC2A and EC1Y is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane. With the A1 and A40 close by, Barbican Estate is simple for us to get to for roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Finsbury (1 mile north), City of London (1 mile south), St Luke's (1 mile north), Bishopsgate (1 mile east) and Aldgate (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles south-west).
Near you in Barbican Estate
Around Barbican Estate, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Barbican Conservatory, Central Foundation Boys' School and Barts Health Archives. You’ll also find Charterhouse Square School (less than half a mile north-west), St Mary-at-Hill (0.8 miles south-east) and The Jugged Hare pub (less than half a mile north-east). There is a railway station in Barbican Estate itself: Moorgate station. Other landmarks nearby include St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics (0.5 miles north-east) and Gabriel's Wharf (1 mile south-west). For a walk, there is Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
Towns and villages near Barbican Estate
Also in Barbican Estate
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps when budgeting.