Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Great Gaddesden Roof Survey
Roof surveys across Great Gaddesden, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
About our roof survey in Great Gaddesden
There are three levels of survey: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photographs and written recommendations. The higher packages add more checks, such as moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies. Every package includes a written report. Typical surveys look at leaking gutter joints and downpipes and flashings that have come away from the wall, on flat roofs, the roof space and lead flashings.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Great Gaddesden (HP1)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Great Gaddesden: your questions answered
I let a flat near Berkhamsted station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you come out to Great Gaddesden?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How much does a roof survey cost in Great Gaddesden?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
How long does a roof survey take?
Allow an hour or two at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep the report with your property records
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
- Photograph stains when they appear
We email the report to you, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each finding is set out in plain English.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Places near Great Gaddesden
Also in Great Gaddesden
What we are asked to look at in Great Gaddesden
Slates and tiles often outlast the fixings that hold them. ‘Nail fatigue’ is common on slate roofs: the nails rust and the slates slide. On tiled roofs, the battens or pegs may be what’s gone, letting tiles move.
We are often asked to look at:
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
If you let a flat or house near Berkhamsted station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
What to check before booking
- Their report turnaround times
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their track record with similar roofs
Great Gaddesden homes and their roofs
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Take a building like Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Take an older house close to Church of St John the Baptist: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Great Gaddesden is about 3 miles north-west of Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Great Gaddesden and the rest of Hertfordshire. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. There is also a page for Milton Keynes.
All of HP1 is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Church Meadow, Piper's Hill and Dagnall Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Great Gaddesden, we cover Nettleden (1 mile south-west), Frithsden (1 mile south-west), Potten End (2 miles south-west), Fields End (2 miles south) and Ashridge (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Watford (10 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (3 miles south-east), St Albans (8 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles east), Harpenden (7 miles east) and Hitchin (15 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Great Gaddesden
Around Great Gaddesden, our work takes us to homes and buildings near John F Kennedy Catholic School and The Crown and Sceptre pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Great Gaddesden is Berkhamsted station, roughly 3 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Hemel Hempstead Hospital (3.2 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Landpark Wood.
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect an hour or two for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Older roofs in small places like Great Gaddesden can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Gaddesden
Landlords and letting agents in Great Gaddesden book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A full building survey of the property
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks