Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Rooks Nest
A careful look at the roof at your property in Rooks Nest, with photos and a written report.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
Roof survey in Rooks Nest
Our roof surveys cover Rooks Nest and the wider South East. Visits run seven days a week. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Each survey ends with a written report, emailed with photos and recommendations. Houses, flats and commercial buildings all follow the same careful process. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’ve noticed ridge tiles that have lifted or moved and water stains on rafters and ceiling joists, we can find out what’s behind it.
Somewhere as small as Rooks Nest, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on what can be seen safely, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Rooks Nest (SG1)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Also in Rooks Nest
When you need someone else
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A full building survey of the property
- An exact number of years the roof has left
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
Questions from Rooks Nest
How do I find out if my home in Rooks Nest is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
I let a flat near Stevenage station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
We don’t give a number of years. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
Can you look at a roof that is joined to next door?
Yes. We survey the parts of the roof you have access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Common roof problems in Rooks Nest
Not every roof problem comes from outside. A badly ventilated loft collects condensation, wetting timbers and insulation. It can look like a leak, and it needs a different fix.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Loose chimney pots
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
If you own a rental within reach of Stevenage station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Landlords, agents and block managers in Rooks Nest
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Mention any damp patches when you book
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
The recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant. Some things need prompt attention, others can be planned for. It makes the next steps much clearer.
Look at your roof from ground level after strong winds. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Getting small faults fixed quickly keeps water out.
Roof surveys around Rooks Nest
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Stevenage, which Rooks Nest is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. Low-pitched roofs shed water more slowly, and older concrete tiles, felt and gutters on these homes may be nearing the end of their life.
Historic houses such as Aston Bury, about 3.7 miles south-east, show how far back building around Rooks Nest goes. Older roofs nearby frequently mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of Saint Nicholas, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Rooks Nest is about 1 mile north of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Roofs in Rooks Nest get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Hertfordshire. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. There is also a page for Milton Keynes.
Roof surveys in SG1 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in St Nicholas (1 mile east), Pin Green (1 mile south), Stevenage (1 mile south), Chells (1 mile south-east) and Bedwell (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover St Albans (13 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south-west), Hitchin (4 miles north-west) and Hoddesdon (14 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Rooks Nest
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Barclay School, Marquis of Granby pub and The John Henry Newman School. The closest station to Rooks Nest is Stevenage station, roughly 1.7 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Stevenage Museum (1.6 miles south) and Wymondley Castle (2.1 miles north-west). Not far away are Pryor's Wood.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Rooks Nest frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from ground level, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there is safe access.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.