Thurrock · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Purfleet-on-Thames, Thurrock
Gutter surveys around Purfleet-on-Thames, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
How a gutter survey works in Purfleet-on-Thames
Most gutters hang from the fascia boards at the eaves, so fascias and soffits are part of the survey. Long-term overflowing can soften and rot timber boards and mark the soffits underneath. On buildings from before 2000, some soffits and rainwater goods may be asbestos cement. We don’t test for asbestos, but we flag anything that could contain it. If you’ve noticed sagging gutters and loose brackets and fascia boards damaged by overflowing water, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on outlets and hoppers, valley gutters and eaves gutters alike.
Around Purfleet-on-Thames, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Purfleet-on-Thames (RM19, RM20)
- Wider area
- Thurrock
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Watch for green marks down the brickwork
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
- Watch the gutters during heavy rain
Questions about the report are welcome. With the Standard Survey there’s a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. Left alone, they usually grow and spilled water harms brickwork and woodwork.
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
- Hidden sections we cannot view safely
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Downpipes
- Outlets and hoppers
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Parapet and box gutters
- Eaves gutters
Signs you need a gutter survey in Purfleet-on-Thames
Gutter brackets work loose or corrode with age. Wet leaves and silt add a lot of weight, and that weight pulls sections out of line. Lose the fall and water gathers in the dip, then overflows.
Look out for signs like these:
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
- Downpipes that are split or coming away
For an older house near a landmark such as St Stephen's Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the survey won’t cover
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
How it works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes an hour or two for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Parking around Purfleet-on-Thames is typically easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- We agree which parts of the building you’re most worried about.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. We note corrosion, cracks and leaking joints where they can be seen.
What a gutter survey looks like in Purfleet-on-Thames
The wider area around Purfleet-on-Thames has a long history of building, with Rainham Hall about 3.1 miles north-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For landlords with property near Purfleet station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Lakeside Shopping Centre, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Purfleet-on-Thames is about 3 miles north of Dartford, in Thurrock. Whether the building in Purfleet-on-Thames is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Across Thurrock, we cover Purfleet-on-Thames. London is in our area too.
Every address in RM19 and RM20 is covered for gutter surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on London Road, London Road Purfleet and London Road West Thurrock. You will find Purfleet-on-Thames on the A1090, which makes it simple to reach. If you are just outside Purfleet-on-Thames, we cover West Thurrock (2 miles east), Temple Hill (2 miles south), South Stifford (2 miles east), Dartford (3 miles south) and Stone (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Stanford-le-Hope (9 miles east), Grays (4 miles east), South Ockendon (3 miles north-east), Balstonia (9 miles east), Corringham (10 miles east) and Chadwell St Mary (6 miles east).
Landmarks near Purfleet-on-Thames
We work in homes and buildings around Harris Academy Riverside and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Purfleet-on-Thames itself: Purfleet station. A little further out are Joyce Green Hospital (1.5 miles south) and Stone Castle (3.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near Purfleet-on-Thames include Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve.
Common questions in Purfleet-on-Thames
I let a flat near Purfleet station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is Purfleet-on-Thames within the area you cover?
Yes, Purfleet-on-Thames is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies.
How long will you be on site?
Most visits to a house take about 1–2 hours, and longer for larger or complex roofs.
What does a gutter survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The size of the property and the access affect the price. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.