Essex · London and the South East
New roof snagging in Chignall Smealy, Essex
Find out the condition of the new roof at your property in Chignall Smealy. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Signs of condensation in the loft space
- Offcuts and broken tiles left behind
- Flashings not properly dressed or fixed
How new roof snagging works in Chignall Smealy
Our inspection covers the slates or tiles, ridges, verges, hips and valleys, along with the flashings and ventilation. At the eaves we check how the underlay is dressed into the gutter, where it can be seen as well as the gutters. You get a photo report of what we found. Any debris left behind or damage to other parts is recorded too. Typical surveys look at broken coverings left on a new roof and underlay ending short at the eaves, on new-build homes, ridges and verges and new flat roofs.
Somewhere as small as Chignall Smealy, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Chignall Smealy (CM1)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes an hour or two at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Chignall Smealy can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with what the roofer did and when they finished.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips and verges from safe vantage points.
- Valleys, flashings, gutters and visible underlay at the eaves are looked at.
- We check the loft where safe and look for debris or damage.
- You get a photo report of each snag.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
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Common questions in Chignall Smealy
Is my home in Chignall Smealy listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Chignall Smealy in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when booking.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
How long will you be on site?
A visit usually takes about one to two hours for a typical new house roof, longer where the roof is large or complicated. You will know roughly how long when we arrange it.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
What happens if roof problems are left?
You may not see a fault until it causes damage. Checking early gives you a record of the roof’s condition at handover. In a place like Chignall Smealy, 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. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Local roofs and buyers in Chignall Smealy
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. About 4.7 miles south lies Hylands, a reminder of how long the area around Chignall Smealy has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Chelmsford station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. If you live in an older home near Church of St Nicholas, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Chignall Smealy is about 4 miles north-west of Chelmsford, in Essex. We carry out new roof snagging in Chignall Smealy for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small.
We survey roofs across the CM1 postcode area for new roof snagging. Nearby, we also carry out new roof snagging in Chignall St James (1 mile south), Breeds (2 miles north-east), Great Waltham (2 miles north-east), Minnow End (2 miles east) and Broomfield (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (4 miles south-east), Basildon (14 miles south), Braintree (9 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south-west) and Maldon (12 miles east).
What’s near Chignall Smealy
Around Chignall Smealy, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Pig and Whistle pub and the streets around them. Chignall Smealy’s nearest station is Chelmsford station, roughly 3.6 miles south-east. Nearby you will also find Bond Street Chelmsford (4 miles south-east) and Peter Edwards Museum And Library (3.9 miles south-east). Open spaces near Chignall Smealy include Little Waltham Meadows.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Towns and villages near Chignall Smealy
What else we do in Chignall Smealy
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Check that gutters weren’t left full of offcuts
- Watch for drips in the loft space with care
- Agree snagging with your roofer at the start
- Raise snags in writing with your roofer
Report times depend on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. If a payment is due soon, choose the package that fits.
Keep an eye on the roof and ceilings in the first months. It’s simpler to raise problems soon after the job.
What affects the cost of new roof snagging
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.