Essex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Great Burstead
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Great Burstead. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
Flat roof survey in Great Burstead
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Felt can blister and crack, asphalt can craze and split, EPDM seams and laps can lift, and GRP can crack where boards meet or at the trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Once you know the covering and its condition, planning the next step is far easier. If you’ve noticed dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and cracked or split membrane, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like Great Burstead are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Great Burstead (CM11, SS15)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat and commercial roofs around Great Burstead
The wider area around Great Burstead has a long history of building, with Ingatestone Hall about 4.6 miles north-west. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary Magdalene, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start. Landlords with a home close to Billericay station may find that flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Great Burstead is about 2 miles south-east of Billericay, in Essex. Great Burstead is one of many places we visit across Essex. Our Essex coverage includes Great Burstead. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CM11 and SS15 is covered for flat roof surveys. Whether your property is on Mill Road, Southend Road and Tyrrells Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Crays Hill (1 mile east), Little Burstead (1 mile west), Billericay (2 miles north-west), Ramsden Bellhouse (2 miles north-east) and Ramsden Heath (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles north), Brentwood (6 miles west), Maldon (13 miles north-east), Canvey Island (8 miles south-east), Rayleigh (7 miles east) and Wickford (4 miles east).
Landmarks near Great Burstead
In Great Burstead, that means homes and buildings near Kings Head pub and The Billericay School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Billericay station, about 2.1 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Eastgate Shopping Centre (2.5 miles south) and Barleylands Farm Museum (less than half a mile south). For a walk, there is Norsey Wood.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Great Burstead?
Many flat roof problems start at the details rather than the main surface. Upstands, trims, outlets and rooflight kerbs each move and weather in their own way. Where they weren’t finished well, they tend to fail before anything else.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Outlets that hold water back
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Cracked or split membrane
For businesses in and around places such as Eastgate Shopping Centre, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What the survey will not cover
- What insurance they carry
- How long the report takes to arrive
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What we do, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Great Burstead can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
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FAQs for Great Burstead
Do you cover Great Burstead?
Yes, Great Burstead is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Great Burstead as anywhere else.
How do I find out if my home in Great Burstead is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
What’s in the 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, so you know exactly what was covered.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs like sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Ponding is worth looking into. It can point to blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is sagging, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. We record where it sits and the likely cause.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Ponding seldom gets better on its own. Most frequently it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and each wet season wears the covering further. Finding the cause now keeps more options open. In a small place like Great Burstead, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, giving you a chance to go through what we found.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
Also near Great Burstead
Other services in Great Burstead
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Burstead
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.