Hertfordshire · London and the South East
How Wood Storm Damage Roof Report
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in How Wood from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Loose or torn flashings
- New damp or leaks inside
- Broken or displaced guttering
About our storm damage roof report in How Wood
We inspect the roof from wherever it can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and higher points, from the loft space and from the roof where it is safe. We photograph and describe each area of damage. We note any part we couldn’t see. You get a written report with photos to give to your insurer. If you’ve noticed gaps where slates or tiles have gone and loose or broken chimney pots and cowls, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Chimney stacks on older houses around places like How Wood can let water in, at the flashings, the pointing or the mortar round the pots. Damp on a chimney breast is not always rain from above, which is why it’s worth tracing properly. The stack, its flashings and the loft space beside it are all worth checking.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- How Wood (AL2)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- File receipts for anything you pay for
- Note the date and time you first saw the damage
- Do not go onto the roof to take pictures
- Take photos of stains and damp inside
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each area of damage. It sets out what is damaged, the likely cause and any signs of older wear. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Keep gutters and outlets clear so heavy rain can drain away. Overflowing gutters can make storm damage worse.
Other services in How Wood
Landlords, agents and block managers in How Wood
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes about one to two hours at a house, and longer if the damage is spread across a large roof. Homes around How Wood frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- 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.
- We send you the report by email for your insurer.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Advice
Storm damage roof reports around How Wood
The wider area around How Wood has a long history of building, with High Elms Manor about 2.2 miles south-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
If you own a rental within reach of How Wood station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. If you run a business near Village Arcade St Albans, finding where water is getting in quickly keeps disruption down. If you look after a building such as How Wood Primary and Nursery School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
How Wood is about 2 miles south-west of St Albans, in Hertfordshire. If you are in How Wood, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Across Hertfordshire, we cover How Wood. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
We work across the AL2 postcode area for storm damage roof reports. Local streets include Ringway Road, Alder Close and How Wood, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for storm damage roof reports include Park Street (1 mile north-east), Chiswell Green (1 mile north-west), Frogmore (1 mile east), Bricket Wood (1 mile south-west) and Colney Street (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Watford (4 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles north-west), Stevenage (15 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles north-east), Harpenden (7 miles north) and Hoddesdon (15 miles east).
Near you in How Wood
Around How Wood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Marlborough Science Academy and The Falcon pub and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in How Wood itself: How Wood station. Nearby you’ll also find Hilfield Castle (4.6 miles south) and Hypocaust Museum (2.1 miles north). For a walk, there is Broad Colney Lakes and Verulamium Lake.
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Which survey package you book
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Roof area
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Anything about access we should know
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Questions from How Wood
Will you come out to How Wood?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you cover How Wood?
We do. The survey and report are the same in How Wood as anywhere else.
What do I do if water is coming in?
Emergency cover over a damaged roof should be arranged with a roofer. Take photos from ground level first if it is safe. Keep receipts for any emergency work.
How much is a storm damage roof report?
A storm damage report starts from £150. Commercial and larger roofs are quoted on size. Repair costs are not part of the report.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you act for me with my insurer?
No. We aren’t loss adjusters and do not act for you with the insurer. We provide an independent record of the roof for you to send to your insurer.
Can I challenge a declined storm claim?
Start by complaining to the insurer. The Financial Ombudsman Service may look at it if that doesn’t resolve it. The Ombudsman asks about storm conditions, whether the damage is consistent with a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Wind can peel back flashings at abutments and stacks. Loose or damaged flashings are photographed and noted.
Flat roof coverings
On flat roofs, storms can lift edges and tear membranes. Damage is photographed and described.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Your policy may say how quickly you need to report damage. Check the wording and tell your insurer as soon as you can. An independent report can follow. With lower homes, common in places like How Wood, there’s little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- 20+ years’ experience
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.