Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Hitchin Storm Damage Roof Report
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Hitchin. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Holes or cracks caused by debris
- Gutters pulled loose in the wind
- Damaged ridges and hips
Storm damage roof reports for homes and businesses in Hitchin
Many policies treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, but it varies by policy. Your policy document sets out its own definition. We do not decide whether a storm met that test. Our part is recording the damage to your roof and its likely cause. The report includes photos of each area of damage, and you decide what to send. Insurers decide claims on their own policy wording. If you’ve noticed damaged flat roof membrane and gaps where slates or tiles have gone, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a town like Hitchin, older houses and newer estates leak in different ways. On older roofs it’s frequently slates, mortar and lead that has split or lifted; later homes can leak at valleys, verges and flat roofs over extensions. The cause decides what happens next, so it is worth finding it properly. It also helps show whether the problem is long-standing wear or recent damage.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Hitchin (SG4, SG5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Parking in a town like Hitchin is normally simple, but let us know if there is a driveway or any restrictions. The inspection covers what can safely be seen from outside, from windows and from the roof space.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe positions.
- Each area of damage is photographed and described.
- The report notes whether the damage fits a storm, older wear or both.
- You get a written report to pass to your insurer.
Preparing for the visit
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
How we price storm damage roof reports
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- When you need the report by
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
What we can’t see
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Damage hidden under coverings or inside the structure, without opening up
- Whether your insurer will pay the claim
- Your insurer’s view of the claim
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Hitchin
- Gutters and fascias
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roofs
- Flashings
- Ridges and hips
- Chimney stacks
What else we do in Hitchin
FAQs for Hitchin
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hitchin?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover Hitchin?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Hitchin as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Who handles emergency protection after a storm?
Call a roofer for emergency temporary protection. Take photos from ground level first if it is safe. Keep receipts in case your insurer asks for them.
My storm claim was turned down. What now?
Raise it with your insurer first. If it is not resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help. The Ombudsman asks about storm conditions, whether the damage is consistent with a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report is sent afterwards by email.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Wind, rain and roofs in Hitchin
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
If you live near a park such as Butts Close, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Saviour: the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. For landlords with property near Hitchin station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Hitchin is about 5 miles north-west of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. We carry out storm damage roof reports for householders, landlords and businesses in Hitchin. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Hitchin. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
We cover every part of the SG4 and SG5 postcode area for storm damage roof reports and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as Market Place, London Road and Harrison Close. Hitchin sits on or near the A505 and A600, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for storm damage roof reports include Benslow (1 mile east), Poets Estate (1 mile east), Bearton (1 mile north-west), Walsworth (1 mile north-east) and Westmill (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Stevenage (5 miles south-east), St Albans (14 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south), Hatfield (13 miles south) and Hertford (13 miles south-east). As one of the bigger places in Hertfordshire, Hitchin has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Hitchin
We work in homes and buildings around Highbury Infant School and Nursery, Butts Close and Kingshott School, among other places. Also close by are Radcliffe Arms (under half a mile north-east) and St Mary's Church (under half a mile south-west). Hitchin has its own railway station: Hitchin station. A little further out are Wymondley Castle (1.7 miles east) and Lister Hospital (3.1 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Purwell Ninesprings and Markham's Hill.
Why act early in Hitchin
The sooner the damage is recorded, the clearer the evidence. Further storms and quick fixes can make the picture less clear. Roof faults found early can be planned for, while one found after water comes through usually has to be dealt with in a hurry, in Hitchin as anywhere.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
What you get with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- An independent view of the roof
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Note the date and time you first saw the damage
- Take photos of stains and damp inside
- Photograph the damage safely from below
- Keep any slates, tiles or debris that fall, if it is safe to do so
Your insurer may send a loss adjuster to look at the damage. Our report gives you an independent record alongside theirs.
A well-maintained roof stands up to storms better. Fix slipped slates, loose ridges and lifted flashings when you spot them.