Essex · London and the South East
Matching Gutter Survey
A careful look at the gutter at your property in Matching, with photographs and a written report.
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Downpipes that are split or coming away
How a gutter survey works in Matching
Some gutters are easy to see from the street but a good many gutters are tucked away. Valley gutters between slopes, gutters behind parapet walls and box or secret gutters can send water indoors when they overflow. We look at them as far as they can be seen safely using vantage points, the loft space and the roof itself where safe. Many leaks indoors start at a hidden gutter. If you’ve noticed valley or box gutters that overflow inside and leaking or loose downpipes, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Matching, 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Matching (CM17)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of gutter surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The roof’s overall size
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
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.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What this survey can’t tell you
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
- Gutters out of sight from every safe vantage point
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Matching
- Downpipes
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
Gutter surveys around Matching
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. Barrington Hall, about 4.1 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Matching. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For landlords with property near Sawbridgeworth station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Matching is about 4 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. Matching is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Across Essex, we cover Matching and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
We work across CM17 for gutter surveys. We also cover Newman's End (1 mile north), Matching Tye (1 mile south-west), Housham Tye (1 mile south-west), Loyter's Green (1 mile south) and Magdalen Laver (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (13 miles east), Harlow (4 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south), Billericay (15 miles south-east), Loughton (11 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (11 miles south-west).
Near you in Matching
For rail, the closest station is Sawbridgeworth station, roughly 2.6 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Mark Hall Cycle Museum (3.2 miles west) and Princess Alexandra Hospital (4.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Sawbridgeworth Marsh.
Places near Matching
Also in Matching
What we look for on each type of roof
Aluminium and other metal gutters
Joints and fixings are the weak points on metal gutters. Any leaks or corrosion we spot go in the report.
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron gutters and downpipes are found on many older buildings. They last well when painted but corrode once the paint wears off.
Common questions in Matching
Is my home in Matching listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
I let a flat near Sawbridgeworth station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes, weekend visits are possible as well as weekdays. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Do you look in the roof space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Matching
Small gutter faults rarely fix themselves. Each heavy rain puts more water where it shouldn’t be, on walls, timber and sometimes inside. Getting it surveyed now shows what needs attention first. Older and listed buildings around Matching may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
For a price for your roof in Matching, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in Matching
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Useful tips for Matching property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Look for downpipes coming loose
- Watch for green marks down the brickwork
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
- Do not climb a ladder to look in the gutters
Landlords and managing agents can keep the report with the building’s records and use it to plan upkeep. Photos make it easier to explain the work to owners, tenants or contractors.
Get the gutters cleared every year or more often near trees. Late autumn, after the leaves have fallen, is a sensible time. Clear gutters can carry water away as they should.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the gutter as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Older rural homes like those around Matching can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We agree which parts of the building you are most worried about.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- Findings are photographed and set out in a written report.
Before we arrive
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.