Essex · London and the South East
Great Braxted Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings across Great Braxted, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
Flat roof survey in Great Braxted: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It helps to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM and GRP often last longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with a photo of every defect. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. We survey GRP fibreglass, single-ply membranes and upstands and outlets, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are blistering in felt or asphalt and pools of water lying on the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Great Braxted may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
Where we cannot see part of the flat roof, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Great Braxted (CM8)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Great Braxted can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We view the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof where it is safe to do so.
- Every part of the roof we can see is looked at: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Towns and villages near Great Braxted
Also in Great Braxted
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of what we found. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
Great Braxted: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Great Braxted?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Great Braxted is within about 5 miles of the coast.
How do I find out if my home in Great Braxted is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What’s in the survey report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: on the roof where it is safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
How much is a survey?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
What this survey can’t tell you
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
Flat roof surveys in Great Braxted: local notes
Great Braxted is within about 5 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
With Layer Marney Tower about 4.7 miles north-east, the area around Great Braxted has a long history. On a period home nearby, any flat roof is likely to be a later addition with its own lifespan. If you let a flat or house near Witham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Great Braxted is about 3 miles east of Witham, in Essex. We provide flat roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Great Braxted. Our area takes in places right across Essex. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across CM8 for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Bung Row and Tiptree Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Great Braxted: Beacon Hill (1 mile south-west), Great Totham (2 miles south), Wickham Bishops (2 miles south-west), Broad Street Green (3 miles south) and Langford (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (11 miles north-east), Chelmsford (10 miles south-west), Braintree (8 miles north-west), Maldon (5 miles south), Rayleigh (15 miles south) and Witham (3 miles west).
What’s near Great Braxted
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Green Man pub and Whet Mead. For rail, the closest station is Witham station, roughly 2.6 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find Anchor Press Museum (2.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Great Braxted include Shut Heath Wood.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Great Braxted?
The details are often where a flat roof lets go first. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. If they were rushed when the roof was laid, they’re often the first things to fail.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Leaks around rooflights
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Splits, cracks and crazing
The streets around a church such as Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What exactly goes into their report
What affects the price in Great Braxted
When we price a survey, we consider:
- House, block, shop or office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Anything about access we should know
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.