Greater London · London and the South East
Upper Norwood Roof Survey
Roof surveys in Upper Norwood and the rest of Greater London. We survey on any day of the week.
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Loose chimney pots
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
We look at the stack itself, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a specialist is needed, we will say so.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Lifted, split or slipped lead is recorded, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Upper Norwood
There are three levels of survey: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Basic is a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, such as moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies. Each one comes with a written report. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or broken and gutters that overflow in heavy rain, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, where the roof is typically a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Upper Norwood (SE19, SE27, SE21)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Upper Norwood
More services for Upper Norwood
Useful tips for Upper Norwood property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Keep the report with your property records
- Tell us about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
- Don’t climb onto the roof yourself
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. You can ask us about anything that is not clear.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation builds up when air cannot move, and it can wet timbers and insulation. Make sure insulation does not block the airflow at the eaves.
When to book a survey in Upper Norwood
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 older roofs frequently have bitumen felt, and very old ones may have none. Torn or sagging felt lets water through.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
Parking in Upper Norwood, as in most of London, takes a little planning: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What experience they bring
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their report turnaround times
Upper Norwood: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for a survey in Upper Norwood?
It rarely stops a survey, but it’s worth planning. Tell us what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
Are there drone restrictions around Upper Norwood?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. 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. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Photos are included.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only when it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and Premium includes a drone where applicable.
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. In a London conversion, the way into the roof 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 Upper Norwood runs like any other.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Upper Norwood homes and their roofs
About 0.8 miles north lies Kingswood House, a reminder of how long the area around Upper Norwood has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Gipsy Hill station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near Christ Church, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Upper Norwood is about 4 miles south-east of Stockwell, in Greater London. We carry out roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Upper Norwood and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in SE19, SE27 and SE21 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You’ll find streets such as Dover Road, Hawke Road and Tudor Road, and we cover them all. Upper Norwood is on the A214, which makes it simple to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Norwood New Town (1 mile west), Gipsy Hill (1 mile north-east), West Norwood (1 mile north-west), Crystal Palace (1 mile east) and Anerley (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include London (6 miles north), City of Westminster (7 miles north-west), Marylebone (7 miles north), Kensington (7 miles north-west), St Pancras (7 miles north) and Shoreditch (7 miles north).
Near you in Upper Norwood
Around Upper Norwood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Sparrowhawk pub, Long Meadow and Rockmount Primary School and the streets around them. Upper Norwood has its own railway station: Gipsy Hill station. Other landmarks nearby include St Christopher's Hospice (1.3 miles east) and Crystal Palace Museum (0.5 miles east). For a walk, there’s Dulwich Upper Wood and Knight's Hill.
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- 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, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys