Essex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Gilston, Essex
An experienced roof surveyor for gutter surveys in Gilston. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Valley or box gutters that overflow inside
Gutter survey in Gilston
Gutters have to slope gently towards the outlet or water sits in them. Sagging brackets and slipped joints leave water standing and overflowing where the gutter dips. We check the line of each run as far as we can see it, along with the brackets and downpipe fixings. You get written recommendations, prioritised by urgency where relevant. If you are worried about soffits marked by water and water backing up from a hidden gutter, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Gilston, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can be seen safely, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Gilston (CM20)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Gilston
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Harlow, which Gilston is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. On homes of that age, felt underlay, flat roofs, gutters and fixings may all be due attention.
Homes near green spaces like Harlow Marsh can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Anyone responsible for a site like St Alban's Catholic Academy will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Gilston is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. Bookings from Gilston are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Essex, we cover Gilston. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Gutter surveys in CM20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Pye Corner and Eastwick Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Gilston, we cover Eastwick (1 mile south-west), Little Parndon (1 mile south-west), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Staple Tye (3 miles south) and Roydon (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (10 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Gilston
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Plume Of Feathers pub, Burnt Mill Academy and Harlow Marsh and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Town station, about 0.6 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Harlow Mill (1.2 miles east). For a walk, there’s Hunsdon Mead.
Nearby places to Gilston
More services for Gilston
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- Parts of gutters that cannot be seen safely
- Whether a material contains asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Gilston
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Parapet and box gutters
What we look for on each type of roof
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Older plastic gutters can turn brittle and crack. We check joints, brackets and the line of each run.
Box and secret gutters
Secret gutters are hidden under the edge of the roof covering, so they’re easy to forget. We look at what’s visible and note what is not.
FAQs for Gilston
Is my home in Gilston listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Gilston worth including?
It’s often worth it, as these roofs are easy to forget. On buildings from before 2000, cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos and should be checked by a specialist asbestos surveyor before anyone disturbs them.
How do I arrange a gutter survey in Gilston?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
How much is a gutter survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The size of the property and the access affect the price. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No. We don’t 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.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a small place like Gilston, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You let us know where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level.
- Valleys, parapets and box gutters are inspected where they can safely be seen.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft for signs of water.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The property’s address and postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
What we are asked to look at in Gilston
Sometimes a gutter struggles with the area of roof draining into it. Added roof area from an extension can load an older gutter, and a heavy downpour shows up the problem.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Leaks at the gutter joints
Historic houses like Much Hadham Palace, about 4.8 miles north, show how far back building around Gilston goes. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their insurance cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What happens after the report arrives