Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Old Knebworth
An experienced roof surveyor for roof surveys in Old Knebworth. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
Roof survey in Old Knebworth: what you get
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, including signs of standing water, splits and tired upstands. A flat roof typically wears out sooner than a pitched one, so they deserve a close look. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. Common reasons to book are worn lead at chimneys and abutments and blocked, sagging or leaking gutters, across natural slate, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles.
Older buildings in small places like Old Knebworth may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Old Knebworth (SG3)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026

What we cannot see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
- Natural slate
When to book a survey in Old Knebworth
Not every roof problem comes from outside. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up in the loft, and the damp gets into timbers and insulation. It can look like a leak.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Loose chimney pots
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
Landlords with a home close to Knebworth station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Many Victorian and Edwardian houses have slate roofs. Where several slates have slipped, the cause is frequently nail fatigue, which we describe in the report.
Flat roof coverings
Some flat roofs have been coated over several times. If the covering would need opening up to know more, we say so.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Old Knebworth
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
Letting agents and landlords in Old Knebworth book surveys as well as householders. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Old Knebworth questions
Do you cover smaller places like Old Knebworth?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is my home in Old Knebworth listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It isn’t a structural engineer’s report and does not include calculations.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What’s covered in a roof inspection?
All the main parts of the roof: the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and roof space. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Photos are included.
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older roofs in small places like Old Knebworth can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
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Nearby places to Old Knebworth
Other services in Old Knebworth
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What a roof survey looks like in Old Knebworth
Historic houses such as Knebworth House, about 0.2 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Old Knebworth goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Homes near green spaces such as Knebworth Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Take a building like Barnwell School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Old Knebworth is about 3 miles south-west of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. If you’re in Old Knebworth, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Old Knebworth and the places around it. There is also a page for London.
We cover every part of the SG3 postcode area for roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a roof survey at a property on Old Knebworth Lane and Park Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Nup End Green (1 mile south-west), Driver's End (1 mile south-west), Rableyheath (1 mile south), Pottersheath (1 mile south) and Langley (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (3 miles north-east), St Albans (10 miles south-west), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles south), Harpenden (7 miles south-west) and Hitchin (6 miles north-west).
Around Old Knebworth
Typical jobs here are in homes near Knebworth Park and Robin Hood And Little John Public House. For rail, the closest station is Knebworth station, about 1 mile east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Lister Hospital (3.7 miles north) and Stevenage Museum (2.2 miles north). The countryside around Old Knebworth includes Mardley Heath.