Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Islington, Greater London
Roof surveys in Islington, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
Roof survey in Islington
Roofs vary a lot across London and South East England. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, and many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles instead. Whatever yours has, the survey is adapted to it. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Every part gets the attention it needs. Typical surveys look at loose ridge or hip tiles and cracked or blistered flat roof coverings, on ridges, hips and valleys, lead flashings and chimney stacks.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, where the roof is usually a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters, in Islington as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photos.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Islington (N1, N7, NW1, EC1V)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see each defect and its location, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. A stuffy loft collects condensation, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents.
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- A full building survey of the property
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
Do you need a roof survey in Islington?
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, battens and pegs can rot, letting tiles move.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Standing water on a flat roof
Dr Johnson's House, about 1.6 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Islington. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
Before you book anyone
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside frequently starts with the stack outside. We look for the likely route in.
Flat roof coverings
A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber frequently lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Places near Islington
What else we do in Islington
Islington: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Islington?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Essex Road station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. It is emailed to you.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t give a number of years. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
How long does the visit take?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How do I arrange a roof survey in Islington?
Simply call 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
What a roof survey looks like in Islington
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you own a rental within reach of Essex Road station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Living close to Barnard Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Islington is about 3 miles north-east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Surveys in Islington work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Islington is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work.
We survey roofs across the N1, N7, NW1 and EC1V postcode area for roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Gibson Square, Old Royal Free Square and Cloudesley Square or a nearby road, we can survey it. You will find Islington on the B515 and A5203, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Pentonville (1 mile south), Angel (1 mile south), Barnsbury (1 mile north-west), Clerkenwell (1 mile south) and Lower Holloway (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (3 miles south), City of Westminster (3 miles south-west), Kensington (5 miles south-west), Walthamstow (5 miles north-east), Hampstead (3 miles west) and Ruislip (13 miles west).
Local landmarks in Islington
We work in homes and buildings around Islington Green School, The King's Head Public House and Pilsudski Institute of London, among other places. You will also find Barnard Park (within half a mile south-west) and St Mary's CofE Primary School (under half a mile east). There is a railway station in Islington itself: Essex Road station. Well-known places in the area include King's College Hospital Charity (0.7 miles north-west) and Montfichet's Tower (1.7 miles south). Not far away are Barnsbury Wood and Ludgate Hill.
How the survey works
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. The visit typically takes about one to two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know as you book.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.