Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Blackfriars, Greater London
Roof surveys in Blackfriars from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
How a roof survey works in Blackfriars
People book a roof survey for all sorts of reasons. Some have spotted a stain or a slipped slate, while others just want to know where they stand. 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. If you are worried about gutters that overflow in heavy rain and gaps in the roof where coverings have gone, we can find out what’s behind it.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. If your home in Blackfriars has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Blackfriars (SE1, EC1M, EC1N)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Slate is common on older homes in London and the South East. Widespread slipping usually points to corroded nails, which we describe in the report.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Mortar at ridges and verges often cracks on tiled roofs. Loose ridges and gaps in the mortar are recorded.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If you are planning to sell, a roof survey can help you prepare. You can deal with defects before a buyer’s surveyor finds them, or at least know what to expect. In Blackfriars, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Package prices that include VAT
Blackfriars homes and their roofs
Blackfriars is about 1 mile from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. If the drone is used for your survey, we check whether the address falls inside it before flying. 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. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Trees in and around Bernie Spain Gardens shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. If you run a business near Gabriel's Wharf, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Blackfriars is about 1 mile north-west of London, in Greater London. Anywhere in Blackfriars, we can carry out roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Greater London, we cover Blackfriars and the places around it.
Roof surveys in SE1, EC1M and EC1N work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Oat Lane, Bear Lane and Shoe Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Main roads around Blackfriars include the A4 and A40, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Blackfriars include Temple (1 mile west), Temple Bar (1 mile west), Bankside (1 mile south-east), Smithfield (1 mile north) and Clare Market (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (3 miles south).
Near you in Blackfriars
Around Blackfriars, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Barts Health Archives, St Mary-at-Hill and St Alban's Church of England Primary School. Nearby too are Bernie Spain Gardens (within half a mile south-west), London Nautical School (0.5 miles south-west) and The Black Friar pub (within half a mile south-east). There is a railway station in Blackfriars itself: London Blackfriars station. A little further out are Montfichet's Tower (less than half a mile north-east) and St Brides Crypt Museum (less than half a mile north-west). Green spaces nearby include Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
Signs you need a roof survey in Blackfriars
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while rain gets into every gap. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
Anyone responsible for a site like Mercers' School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking anyone
- Their report turnaround times
- What exactly goes into their report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot 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.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Blackfriars
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Blackfriars questions
I let a flat near London Blackfriars station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Blackfriars?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What’s covered in a roof inspection?
Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, along with the loft where it’s safe. The report includes photos and recommendations.
How long does a roof survey take?
The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Towns and villages near Blackfriars
What else we do in Blackfriars
What happens on the day
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a London conversion, the way into the roof space is frequently from a communal landing or the top flat. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Otherwise, the visit in Blackfriars runs like any other.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from ground level, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- We then look in the loft for damp, staining and the condition of the underlay.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
For a price for roof surveys in Blackfriars, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.