Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Roof survey in Benslow, Hertfordshire
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings for Benslow, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
The survey, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. A visit to Benslow is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Related advice
Roof survey in Benslow
Our roof survey gives you a clear picture of your roof’s condition. Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, along with the loft where it’s safe to get in. The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations. Where it helps, we say which items are urgent and which can wait. Typical surveys look at gaps in the roof where coverings have gone and torn or sagging underlay, across chimney stacks, ridges, hips and valleys and flat roofs.
Around Benslow, gardens, hedges and nearby trees can mean leaves and moss end up on roofs and in gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Plants growing from a gutter or moss on the tiles are signs worth noting from the ground.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Benslow (SG4, SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Make sure we can open the loft hatch
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
- Hold on to the report for future surveys
- Include dormers, porches and garages when booking
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so often, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
More services for Benslow
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: 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.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Common roof problems in Benslow
Wherever a roof meets a wall, a chimney or another roof, a flashing keeps water out. Over time lead flashings split, lift or work loose, and mortar fillets crack away from the wall. Missing lead isn’t unusual either, as thieves target it.
Problems we come across often include:
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
Homes near green spaces such as Butts Close can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before booking
- When you’ll get the report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Will the report include photos?
- What they won’t be able to tell you
Landlord and commercial surveys in Benslow
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What a roof survey looks like in Benslow
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of the Holy Saviour, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. For landlords with property near Hitchin station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Benslow is about 1 mile east of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Benslow, the roof can be surveyed. Benslow is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire we cover for roof surveys. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof surveys: SG4 and SG5. That includes homes and businesses on Water Lane, Riddy Lane and The Avenue and the roads around them. You will find Benslow on the A505, which makes it simple to reach. If you’re just outside Benslow, we cover Hitchin (1 mile west), Poets Estate (1 mile east), Walsworth (1 mile north-east), Bearton (1 mile north-west) and Westmill (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Stevenage (5 miles south-east), St Albans (14 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south), Hatfield (13 miles south) and Hertford (13 miles south-east).
Around Benslow
We work in homes and buildings around St Mary's Church, Kingshott School and Hitchin Girls' School and the streets around them. Nearby too are The Albert pub (within half a mile north-west) and Butts Close (0.8 miles west). There is a railway station in Benslow itself: Hitchin station. Other landmarks nearby include Wymondley Castle (1.4 miles south-east) and Lister Hospital (2.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Benslow includes Markham's Hill and Purwell Ninesprings.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
Benslow: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Benslow?
Yes, Benslow is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Benslow?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Photos are included.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing isn’t part of our service. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Can you inspect a terraced or semi-detached roof?
Yes, we can. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. If a problem seems to come from next door, we’ll say so.