Essex · London and the South East
Wakes Colne Gutter Survey
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Wakes Colne, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Gutters full of debris and silt
Gutter survey in Wakes Colne
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. If they clog, drip or sag, the water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t and that normally means the walls or the inside of the building. Our survey looks at the whole rainwater system above ground, including gutters, valleys, outlets, hoppers and downpipes. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you are worried about overflowing eaves gutters and gutters packed with leaves or moss, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on downpipes, eaves gutters and valley gutters alike.
In a village or hamlet like Wakes Colne, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the gutter, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Wakes Colne (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Wakes Colne
Lots of tiled and slate roofs carry moss, and rain washes it down into the gutters. Mixed with grit from the roof, it settles as silt that holds water in the gutter and gives plants somewhere to grow.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
- Gutters full of debris and silt
Anyone responsible for a site like Chappel Church of England Controlled Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What follow-up you get after the report
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Watch the gutters during heavy rain
- Watch for green marks down the brickwork
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
Where the evidence points to drains below ground, the report says so, so a drain survey can be arranged. Anything else we notice on the roof, as far as we can see it, is noted too.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. Left alone, they normally grow and spilled water harms brickwork and woodwork.
What we can’t see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- Parts of gutters that cannot be seen safely
- Rot or damp concealed behind fascias or inside walls
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Wakes Colne
- Downpipes
- Fascias and soffits
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Valley gutters
What happens if roof problems are left?
A dripping joint or sagging bracket will not get better on its own. Each heavy rain puts more water where it shouldn’t be on the walls, the fascias and sometimes the rooms inside. A survey now tells you what needs doing and how urgent it is. In a place like Wakes Colne, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why us?
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
See our cost guide or our case studies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Wakes Colne
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Also near Wakes Colne
More services for Wakes Colne
Common questions in Wakes Colne
Will you come out to Wakes Colne?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Wakes Colne 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’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
When is the best time for a gutter survey?
Any time of year works. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work, and a wet spell can show where gutters overflow.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No. We don’t test for asbestos. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us when you book.
How much time does the visit need?
A visit typically takes an hour or two at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. We’ll give you an idea when you book.
Wakes Colne homes and their roofs
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, 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.
Living close to Colne Valley is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. For landlords with property near Chappel & Wakes Colne station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Wakes Colne is about 5 miles east of Halstead, in Essex. We provide gutter surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Wakes Colne and nearby. Wakes Colne is one of the places in Essex where we work. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for gutter surveys: CO6. That includes homes and businesses on Station Road, The Street and Colchester Road. You will find Wakes Colne on the A1124, which makes it simple to reach. If you’re just outside Wakes Colne, we cover Chappel (1 mile south), Rose Green (1 mile south-east), Swan Street (1 mile south), White Colne (1 mile west) and Great Tey (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (7 miles east), Braintree (9 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (10 miles south-west), Camulodunum (6 miles south-east) and Halstead (5 miles west).
Near you in Wakes Colne
In Wakes Colne, that means homes and buildings near Colne Valley and The Swan pub and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Wakes Colne itself: Chappel & Wakes Colne station. Well-known places in the area include Mount Bures (2.5 miles north) and Halstead Hospital (5.2 miles west). The countryside around Wakes Colne includes Sergeants Orchard.
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. For a village or hamlet like Wakes Colne, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First, you tell us what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- We look along the gutters, downpipes and fascias from the ground and from windows.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can safely be seen.
- The loft space is checked for water marks if it is safe to get into.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.