Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Gutter survey in The Willows, Hertfordshire
We carry out gutter surveys in The Willows and the rest of Hertfordshire. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in The Willows
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. When they block, leak or lose their fall, the water goes where it shouldn’t, frequently down the brickwork or into the building. We check the full rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you’ve noticed blocked outlets and hoppers and soffits marked by water, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on fascias and soffits, valley gutters and parapet and box gutters alike.
In a small place like The Willows, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The Standard Survey adds 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
- The Willows (SG9)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
FAQs for The Willows
Is my home in The Willows listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Stansted Mountfitchet station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you need, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you look in the roof space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
How much is a gutter survey?
Our packages start from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email for a price.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How long will you be on site?
It normally takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We will give you an idea when you book.
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Don’t climb a ladder to look in the gutters
- Have overhanging branches cut back
- Check downpipe clips are holding
- Look out for overflows when it pours
After any work is done, watch the gutters in the next heavy rain. Rain should flow to the outlets and down the downpipes, and if it doesn’t, raise it with whoever did the job.
Look at the gutters from indoors or the ground when it pours. Water spilling over the edge or out of a joint is a sign that something needs attention before damage builds up.
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older roofs in small places like The Willows can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We agree which parts of the building you are most worried about.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- We check the outlets, hoppers, downpipes and any overflows.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Book a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
What we’re asked to look at in The Willows
Moss grows on many tiled and slate roofs, and heavy rain washes clumps of it into the gutters. Mixed with grit from the roof, it settles as silt that slows the flow and gives plants somewhere to grow.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
- Downpipes that are split or coming away
For landlords with property near Stansted Mountfitchet station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before you book anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their insurance cover
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Their report turnaround times
Places near The Willows
What else we do in The Willows
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Local roofs in The Willows
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. 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.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Furneux Pelham Church of England School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
The Willows is about 5 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. We carry out gutter surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in The Willows and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for gutter surveys: SG9. We cover properties on Ginns Road and The Wash. Other places close to The Willows include Stocking Pelham (1 mile north-east), Berden (2 miles north-east), Uppend (2 miles south-east), Starling's Green (2 miles north-east) and Mount Pleasant (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles south-east), Hoddesdon (13 miles south), Hertford (12 miles south-west), Letchworth (14 miles west) and Ware (10 miles south-west).
Landmarks near The Willows
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Cock pub, among other places. The closest station to The Willows is Stansted Mountfitchet station, roughly 4.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Brent Pelham (2.2 miles north-west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (5.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Height and safe access
- Which survey package you book
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- When you need the report by
- What’s prompted the survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.