Essex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Great Leighs, Essex
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes for Great Leighs, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Book gutter clearing once a year, more often near trees
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
- Look out for overflows when it pours
- Note any damp stains below the gutters
For let and shared buildings, the report can go on file and use it to plan upkeep. Photos make it easier to explain the work to owners, tenants or contractors.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. They tend to get worse, and the water they spill can damage walls and timber.
Gutter survey in Great Leighs
Leaves, moss and silt are the usual reasons gutters block. Buildings near trees collect more, and moss washing off a tiled or slate roof adds to it. We note where gutters are clogged or holding water and where outlets or hoppers are choked and whether any overflows are doing their job. Photos show each problem clearly. Blocked gutters are easy to put off, but they rarely get better. We’re frequently asked to look into downpipes that are split or coming away and leaks at the gutter joints, on parapet and box gutters, downpipes and eaves gutters.
Older buildings in small places like Great Leighs may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
If any part of the gutter couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Great Leighs (CM3)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Great Leighs
Also in Great Leighs
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes between one and two hours at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. In a hamlet or village like Great Leighs, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by hearing about any drips, overflows or damp patches.
- We look along the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level and from windows.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can be seen safely.
- The roof space is checked for water marks if it is safe to get into.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Common questions in Great Leighs
How do I find out if my home in Great Leighs is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to Great Leighs?
Yes. Great Leighs is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you look in the roof space?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Does the season matter for a gutter survey?
Any time of year works. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems frequently show up after heavy rain.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, like sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Is a Saturday or Sunday visit possible?
Yes, we carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays as well as weekdays. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What we look for on each type of roof
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Many homes have plastic gutters and downpipes. Their joints can leak as the seals wear, and brackets can sag under load.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
A London butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, and a blockage there can overflow inside. We check it where it is safe to see.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Valley gutters
- Downpipes
- Outlets and hoppers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Eaves gutters
What a gutter survey looks like in Great Leighs
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
Take a building like Great Leighs Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you own a rental within reach of Cressing station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Great Leighs is about 4 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. We survey roofs in Great Leighs as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Essex. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM3 postcode area for gutter surveys. We cover properties on Aragon Road, Fortune Close and Audley Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Great Leighs: Gubbion's Green (1 mile east), Young's End (1 mile north-east), Fuller Street (1 mile south-east), Row Green (2 miles north-east) and Fairstead (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (6 miles south), Braintree (4 miles north-east), Maldon (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles south), Witham (6 miles east) and Wickford (15 miles south).
Near you in Great Leighs
We work in homes and buildings around The Castle pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Cressing station, roughly 3.4 miles north-east. A little further out are William Julien Courtauld Hospital (3.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Great Leighs include Sandylay and Moat Woods.
Common roof problems in Great Leighs
Leaves are behind most blocked gutters. Every autumn, trees fill gutters with leaves, twigs and seeds and the debris builds up at the outlets. Once an outlet is choked, the gutter fills and overflows.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Overflowing eaves gutters
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Evangelist are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their track record with similar roofs
Why act early in Great Leighs
When a valley or parapet gutter blocks, the water has nowhere safe to go. It can back up into the loft space and the rooms below usually during the worst downpours. It is worth having these gutters looked at before the wetter months. Older and listed buildings around Great Leighs may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Surveys seven days a week
- PI and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition