Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Shirley, Greater London
Roof surveys in Shirley, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
About our roof survey in Shirley
The report is written for you, in plain language. Each defect is described with photographs and a recommendation, and we rank them by urgency where that helps. With the Standard Survey you also get moisture detection and a structural check. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Reports are sent by email. Typical surveys look at standing water on a flat roof and ridge tiles that have lifted or moved, across flat roofs, natural slate and chimney stacks.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. If your home in Shirley has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Shirley (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Shirley
Is my home in Shirley listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is drone flying allowed in Shirley?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. 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. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will you check the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. The loft space can show things the outside cannot, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes, we can. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. If a problem seems to come from next door, we will say so.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Signs you need a roof survey in Shirley
Blocked gutters cause a surprising amount of damage. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the building, especially near trees.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
The streets around a church such as St George The Martyr Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Include dormers, porches and garages when you book
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Check we can open the loft hatch
- Let us know about past leaks
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see whether anything has changed.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear of leaves and moss, particularly after autumn. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Most overflow damage starts with a blocked gutter.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Slate is common on older homes in London and the South East. Widespread slipping typically points to corroded nails, and we say how widespread it looks.
Flat roof coverings
Some flat roofs have been coated over several times. We say what we can see and when a closer look would need opening up.
Prices for roof surveys in Shirley
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- What made you get in touch
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Roof surveys around Shirley
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. With Addington Palace about 1.7 miles south, Shirley sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Elmers End station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you look after a building such as Oasis Academy Shirley Park, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Shirley is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in Shirley, we can survey the roof. Our Greater London coverage includes Shirley. London is in our area too.
We work across the CR0, SE25 and CR9 postcode area for roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer roof surveys to properties on Poppy Lane, Homer Road and Craven Road and the roads around them. Main roads around Shirley include the A232, so getting to you is simple. If you are just outside Shirley, we cover Monks Orchard (1 mile north), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns like London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
What’s near Shirley
We work in homes and buildings around The Cricketers pub, Ashburton Park and Orchard Way Primary School. For rail, the closest station is Elmers End station, about 1.2 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Crystal Palace Museum (2.8 miles north) and St George's Walk (2 miles west). The countryside around Shirley includes Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Shirley
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
What happens on the day
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos. As for time on site, it usually takes about one to two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Shirley runs like any other.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We look at the roof from each safe vantage point outside.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there is safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.