Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Ratcliff, Greater London
Roof surveys across Ratcliff, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
What we do, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In Ratcliff, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is frequently 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 when you book.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- A visit is booked for a weekday or a weekend.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Tell us about parking before the day
How to book
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Roof survey in Ratcliff
We survey roofs in Ratcliff and across London and South East England. Visits run on any day of the week. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and bring 20+ years’ experience. Each survey ends with a written report, emailed with photographs and recommendations. Whether it’s a house, a flat or a commercial building, the process is the same. To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us. If you are worried about crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and ridge tiles that have lifted or moved, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate alike.
London has Victorian and Edwardian terraces in almost every borough, often with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Slates can last a century or more, but the nails holding them corrode, and slates slip. In Ratcliff, as across London, that is why a roof needs a close look rather than a glance from the street. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a close look too.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Ratcliff (E1, E14, SE16)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Other services in Ratcliff
What we are asked to look at in Ratcliff
What’s under the slates or tiles is as important as the coverings themselves. Breathable roofing membranes came into use in the UK in the late 1990s, so many older roofs have bitumen felt underlay, and some very old roofs have no underlay at all. Felt that has torn or perished stops doing its job.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Debris building up in roof valleys
If you own a rental within reach of Limehouse station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Landlord and commercial surveys in Ratcliff
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What a roof survey does not cover
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A full building survey of the property
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
Prices for roof surveys in Ratcliff
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What to tell us when you contact us
We’ll normally ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
To get a price for roof surveys in Ratcliff, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.
Roof surveys around Ratcliff
The restricted area over the Isle of Dogs, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 2 miles from Ratcliff. If your survey includes the drone, the address is checked against it before any flight. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Trees in and around Stepney Green Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Take an older house close to Royal Foundation of St Katharine: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Ratcliff is about 1 mile east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Ratcliff and the rest of Greater London. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
Every address in E1, E14 and SE16 is within our area for roof surveys. You will find streets such as Wharf Lane, Glamis Road and Salter Road, all of which we cover. With the A101 and A126 close by, Ratcliff is simple for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Shadwell (1 mile south), East End of London (1 mile north-west), Limehouse (1 mile north-east), Stepney (1 mile north) and Wapping (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover City of Westminster (5 miles west), Marylebone (4 miles west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles west), Walthamstow (5 miles north) and Hampstead (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Ratcliff
In Ratcliff, that means homes and buildings near Stepney Green Park, Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives and Stepney Jewish School and the streets around them. You’ll also find Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School (under half a mile north-west) and The British Prince Public House (under half a mile north). Ratcliff has its own railway station: Limehouse station. A little further out are Tower of London (1.4 miles west) and The Royal London Hospital (0.8 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Lavender Pond and Tower Hill.
Ratcliff questions
Is drone flying allowed in Ratcliff?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport comes within about 1 mile of Ratcliff. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. The restricted area over the Isle of Dogs, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 2 miles from Ratcliff. If a roof falls inside it, we apply for permission before flying, and the flight only goes ahead if it is granted. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Ratcliff?
Parking in Ratcliff, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
What does a roof survey include?
We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft space where there’s safe access. The report includes photos and recommendations.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes, we inspect your part of the roof. Next door’s roof is only inspected as far as we can see it. Shared stacks and upstands are looked at from your property.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the survey is done from ground level, upper windows and the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone where applicable.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing when booking.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months. It shows how the roof has fared over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation builds up when air can’t move, and it can wet timbers and insulation. Check insulation does not block the airflow at the eaves.