Essex · London and the South East
Swallows Cross New Roof Snagging
We carry out new roof snagging in Swallows Cross and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Cracked lower roofs or marked walls after the work
- Signs of condensation in the roof space
- Cracked or slipped new tiles or slates
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How new roof snagging works in Swallows Cross
Replacing a roof costs a lot, so it makes sense to check the work before you pay the final bill. Our new roof snagging inspection looks for faults and unfinished work on the roof and around the property. The findings go into a written report with photos to share with your roofer. It’s an independent check, separate from the roofer who did the work. Typical surveys look at cracked lower roofs or marked walls after the work and poorly finished verges, across loft conversions and dormers, flashings and valleys and new-build homes.
Being in a small place like Swallows Cross makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Swallows Cross (CM15)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about new roof snagging in Swallows Cross
How do I find out if my home in Swallows Cross is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to Swallows Cross?
Yes, Swallows Cross is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
What’s the best time to have a new roof checked?
Once the roofer says the job is done, ideally before you pay in full. That gives time for any snags to be put right.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Also near Swallows Cross
Other services in Swallows Cross
What we do, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for a typical new house roof, longer where the roof is large or complicated. Somewhere like Swallows Cross needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start by finding out what was replaced and what worries you.
- The coverings, ridges, hips and verges are checked as far as can safely be seen.
- Flashings, valleys, gutters and visible underlay at the eaves are looked at.
- Where it is safe, we check the loft, then look for debris or damage left behind.
- We send a photo-illustrated written report of each snag.
Before we arrive
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
Specific, photographed snags are easier to discuss than a vague worry. It keeps things factual. Outbuildings and barns around Swallows Cross are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Swallows Cross
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the new roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Honest limits
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- What’s under the new coverings
- Details hidden from sight
- Whether the roof will leak in future
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Swallows Cross
- Replacement roofs
- Ridges and verges
- Flashings and valleys
- Loft conversions and dormers
- New flat roofs
- New-build homes
How we price new roof snagging
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Height and safe access
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
These details help when you get in touch:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Swallows Cross homes and their roofs
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. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. With Ingatestone Hall about 2.5 miles east, Swallows Cross sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Ingatestone station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Swallows Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Brentwood, in Essex. We visit Swallows Cross as part of our work across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. Across Essex, we cover Swallows Cross. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM15 postcode area for new roof snagging. Whether your property is on Thoby Lane and Wyatt's Green Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover Wyatt's Green (1 mile north-west), Green Street (1 mile north-east), Mountnessing (1 mile south-east), Doddinghurst (1 mile west) and Beggar Hill (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (8 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (12 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles south-west), Canvey Island (15 miles south-east) and Billericay (5 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Swallows Cross
For rail, the closest station is Ingatestone station, about 2.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Brentwood Community Hospital (2.9 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Thorndon Park.