Essex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Howe Street, Essex
A careful look at the gutter at your property in Howe Street, with photos and a written report.
- Downpipes that are split or coming away
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Howe Street
A gutter needs a steady fall towards its outlet or water sits in them. When brackets sag or joints part, water pools, drips and spills over at the low points. We check the line of each run as far as we can see it and look at the brackets and downpipe clips. Recommendations are written down and prioritised by urgency where relevant. If you are worried about overflowing eaves gutters and gutters that have fallen out of line, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Howe Street, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Howe Street (CM3)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Howe Street
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, 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. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of SS Mary and Laurence, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you look after a building such as Chelmer Valley High School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. Landlords with a home close to Beaulieu Park station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Howe Street is about 5 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. In Howe Street, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Howe Street is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for gutter surveys.
We cover every part of CM3 for gutter surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Parsonage Lane and Bridge Croft, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Chatham Green (1 mile north-east), Hartford End (2 miles north), Little Leighs (2 miles north-east), Ford End (2 miles north-west) and Pleshey (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (5 miles south), Braintree (7 miles north-east), Harlow (15 miles west), Brentwood (14 miles south-west), Maldon (11 miles south-east) and Billericay (12 miles south).
Local landmarks in Howe Street
We work in homes and buildings around The Green Man Inn. The nearest railway station is Beaulieu Park station, about 4 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Broomfield Hospital (2.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Little Waltham Meadows.
Nearby places to Howe Street
Other services in Howe Street
What affects the price in Howe Street
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- House, block, shop or office
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How big the roof is
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Anything about access we should know
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. Splits and failed joints in the lead can let water straight in.
Fascias and soffits
On buildings from before 2000, soffits may be asbestos cement. Any we think could be are flagged for a specialist asbestos surveyor to check.
What this survey cannot tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Rot or damp concealed behind fascias or inside walls
- What’s hidden inside a downpipe
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Outlets and hoppers
- Eaves gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
Landlord and commercial surveys in Howe Street
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the gutter, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Howe Street questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Howe Street?
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.
Is Howe Street within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
When is the best time for a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems frequently show up after heavy rain.
Do you survey underground drains?
No, CCTV drain work isn’t part of this survey. The survey covers gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows and flags signs of a drain problem.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. As for time on site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Howe Street can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First, you tell us what you’ve seen, like overflows or damp.
- We look along the gutters, downpipes and fascias from the ground and from windows.
- Any valley, parapet or box gutters are looked at as far as safe access allows.
- Where the loft can be reached safely, we check it for staining or damp.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.