Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Clerkenwell, Greater London
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings for Clerkenwell and the rest of Greater London. We survey on any day of the week.
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Clerkenwell
Many homes have several roofs, not just one. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages often have flat roofs. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. A flat roof usually wears out sooner than a pitched one, so they deserve a careful look. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. We survey clay and concrete tiles, ridges, hips and valleys and lead flashings, and people most often book us about water stains on rafters and ceiling joists and loose chimney pots.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, so roofs are frequently shared between several households. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. With a written report and photographs, everyone can plan from the same facts.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Clerkenwell (N1, EC1V, WC1X)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof survey does not cover
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal chimneys, walls and abutments. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Concrete interlocking tiles
On low-pitched roofs, the laps and fixings of interlocking tiles matter. We look for lifted, cracked or slipped tiles, particularly at the verges and ridge.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Clerkenwell homes and their roofs
Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Clerkenwell is about 1 mile from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. If your survey includes the drone, the address is checked against it before any flight.
Dr Johnson's House, about 0.8 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Clerkenwell. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs. For businesses in and around places like Brunswick Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. Anyone responsible for a site like St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Clerkenwell is about 2 miles north of London, in Greater London. In Clerkenwell, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Greater London, we cover Clerkenwell.
We work across the N1, EC1V and WC1X postcode area for roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Long Lane, City Road and Noel Road. You’ll find Clerkenwell on the A1 and A5201, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Clerkenwell: Farringdon (1 mile south), Angel (1 mile north), Smithfield (1 mile south), Holborn (1 mile south-west) and St Pancras (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Kensington (5 miles south-west), Walthamstow (5 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
What’s near Clerkenwell
In Clerkenwell, that means homes and buildings near Barts Health Archives, The Sekforde pub and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School and the streets around them. Nearby too are Tech City College (under half a mile north-east) and King Square Gardens (less than half a mile north-east). There is a railway station in Clerkenwell itself: Farringdon station. A little further out are Brunswick Centre (0.9 miles west) and Montfichet's Tower (0.9 miles south). Open spaces near Clerkenwell include St. James's Park Lake and Ludgate Hill.
Common questions in Clerkenwell
Is my home in Clerkenwell listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Farringdon station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It is not a structural engineer’s report and doesn’t include calculations.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing is not part of our service. Where materials might contain it, we say so in the report so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Towns and villages near Clerkenwell
More services for Clerkenwell
Why act early in Clerkenwell
Hidden gutters and valleys can fail without warning. When they do, water comes straight into the house. A survey checks them while they’re still dry. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Clerkenwell
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Tips from our surveys
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Do not climb onto the roof yourself
- Keep the report with your property records
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
The recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant. Some things need prompt attention, others can be planned for. It makes the next steps much clearer.
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. Photograph anything new.
How the survey works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. In Clerkenwell, as in much of London, lots of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.