Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Hornchurch, Greater London
Roof surveys in Hornchurch from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
What a roof survey looks like in Hornchurch
With Hare Hall about 1.8 miles north, Hornchurch sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Emerson Park station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Homes near green spaces like St. Andrew's Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Hornchurch is about 6 miles south-west of Brentwood, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Hornchurch, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for London.
Here we cover the RM12, RM11, RM14 and RM1 postcode area for roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, The Avenue and Stanley Road. You will find Hornchurch on the A125, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover Upminster Bridge (1 mile east), Heath Park (1 mile north-west), Emerson Park (1 mile north-east), Hacton (2 miles south) and Ardleigh Green (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like London (14 miles west), St Pancras (14 miles west), Shoreditch (13 miles west), Walthamstow (10 miles west), Hoxton (13 miles west) and Whitechapel (13 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hornchurch
Typical jobs here are in homes near Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College, J.J. Moon's pub and St. Andrew's Park. The nearest railway station is Emerson Park station, roughly 0.7 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia (1.9 miles east) and The Brewery (1.8 miles north-west). Open spaces near Hornchurch include Hornchurch Cutting.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hornchurch
We inspect what can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where conditions allow. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, which helps with tall or steep roofs. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Everything we see is photographed for the report. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and natural slate, and people most often book us about worn or blocked valleys and slates or tiles that have slipped or broken.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, so roofs are often shared between several households. Landlords, managing agents and residents’ companies need to know what condition it’s in and what work is coming up, in Hornchurch as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Hornchurch (RM12, RM11, RM14, RM1)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof survey does not cover
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- An exact number of years the roof has left
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 before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Hornchurch
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a visit in Hornchurch, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from the ground, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Check we can get to the back of the property
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Most leaks begin at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. They get particular attention in every survey.
Flat roof coverings
Standing water, blisters and splits all point to wear. Upstands and outlets are checked too, since leaks often start there.
Prices for roof surveys in Hornchurch
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hornchurch
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Do you need a roof survey in Hornchurch?
Slates and tiles often outlast the fixings that hold them. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, the battens or pegs may be what’s gone.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
Anyone responsible for a site like Langtons Infant School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What happens after the report arrives
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
Also near Hornchurch
Also in Hornchurch
Common questions in Hornchurch
Is parking a problem for a survey in Hornchurch?
Parking in Hornchurch, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly.
How do I find out if my home in Hornchurch is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Do you look in the roof space?
Usually, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. The loft space can show things the outside cannot, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually 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 will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details as you book.