Essex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Bures, Essex
Get a clear view of the gutter at a property in Bures from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Cottages and farmhouses around Bures frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start by hearing about any drips, overflows or damp patches.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are checked from ground level and vantage points.
- Any valley, parapet or box gutters are looked at as far as safe access allows.
- The loft space is checked for water marks if it’s safe to get into.
- We send a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Gutter survey in Bures: what you get
Damp on walls, water marks under a valley or streaks down the brickwork can frequently be traced to the gutters. We check whether gutters, outlets or downpipes are the likely source, from what can be seen safely. Where the cause looks more like the roof covering or a flashing, the report says so. The next step is suggested too. We survey downpipes, eaves gutters and valley gutters, and common reasons people get in touch are cracked or loose downpipes and overflowing valley or parapet gutters.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report records the gutter as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Bures (CO8)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Parts of gutters that can’t be seen safely
- What’s behind fascias and inside walls
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Valley gutters
- Parapet and box gutters
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Questions from Bures
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bures?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can a landlord with a rental near Bures station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No. We do not test for asbestos. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. A split lining can leak straight into the building.
Box and secret gutters
A secret gutter is tucked under the slates or tiles at an abutment or valley, so they’re easy to forget. The report records what could and couldn’t be seen.
Local roofs in Bures
Historic houses like Gainsborough's House, about 5 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Bures goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Anyone responsible for a site like Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. Landlords with a home close to Bures station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Bures is in Essex. We carry out gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Bures. Across Essex, we cover Bures and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Surveys in CO8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Church Square, High Street and Bridge Street. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Bures Green (1 mile north-east), Mount Bures (1 mile south), Lamarsh (1 mile north-west), Alphamstone (2 miles north-west) and Cross End (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (8 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles south-west), Camulodunum (7 miles south-east), Halstead (6 miles west) and Greenstead (9 miles south-east).
Near you in Bures
In Bures, that means homes and buildings near Tiger Hill and Three Horseshoes Inn, among other places. There is a railway station in Bures itself: Bures station. A little further out are Mount Bures (0.9 miles south). For a walk, there is Sergeants Orchard.
Useful tips for Bures property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check for spilling water in a downpour
- Book gutter clearing once a year, more often near trees
- Note any damp stains below the gutters
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
Report times depend on the package you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. We email it to you as soon as it’s ready.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They collect leaves and silt just like eaves gutters but they’re much harder to spot, so make sure they’re included in any clearing work.
Towns and villages near Bures
What else we do in Bures
Why it’s worth a survey now in Bures
Small gutter faults rarely fix themselves. Every downpour adds to the damage on the walls, the fascias and sometimes the rooms inside. Getting it surveyed now shows what needs attention first. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Bures, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Gutter survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
What you get with us
- A report with photographs
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Package prices that include VAT
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.