Essex · London and the South East
Roof surveys in CO5
Our roof surveyors cover all of the CO5 postcode district, which takes in Tiptree, West Mersea and Kelvedon. You get a written report with photos after every survey, with prices from £150 including VAT.
Places in CO5
- Tiptree
- West Mersea
- Kelvedon
- Rowhedge
- East Donyland
- Feering
- Tolleshunt Knights
- Abberton
- High Park Corner
- Peldon
- Tiptree Heath
- Fingringhoe
- East Mersea
- Barrow Hill
- Langenhoe
- Messing
- Great Wigborough
- Little Wigborough
- Skye Green
- Easthorpe
- Layer Marney
- Stocks Green
- Windmill Hill
- Wivenhoe Quay
- Mulberry Green
Services in CO5
- Thermal imaging roof survey
- Chimney survey
- Landlord roof survey
- Storm damage roof report
- Electronic leak detection
- New roof snagging
- Pre-purchase roof survey
- Gutter survey
- Roof survey
- Drone roof survey
- Roof leak investigation
- Flat roof survey
- All services
Share the property address and any deadline you’re working to and we’ll find a date: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Our roof survey service in CO5
Roof coverings last a long time, but not for ever. Slate often lasts a century or more, and tiles commonly half a century, but the fixings and underlay beneath them frequently give out sooner. A survey shows which parts of your roof are wearing. Knowing that helps you plan work before it becomes urgent. We’re frequently asked to look into standing water on a flat roof and loose ridge or hip tiles, across ridges, hips and valleys, flat roofs and lead flashings.
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes an hour or two for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from the ground, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there is safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
What you’ll pay
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey
- 20+ years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Booking a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Near you in Tiptree
We work in homes and buildings around Thurstable School, St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School and Tiptree Parish Field, among other places. Also close by are The Anchor Public House (less than half a mile south) and Church of St Luke (within half a mile south). The nearest railway station is Kelvedon station, roughly 2.8 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Birch Castle (3.7 miles north-east) and Anchor Press Museum (within half a mile east). The countryside around Tiptree includes Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters across CO5
Across CO5, we survey roofs for owners, landlords and agents, from Tiptree, West Mersea and Wivenhoe Quay to the quieter places in between. Every report comes with photos and written recommendations.
From inner London terraces to Kent oast houses, Sussex tile-hanging and Hampshire thatch, the South East has a huge mix of roofs. Roofs in CO5 are part of that picture. CO5 includes coastal places, where roofs take more wind and salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Tiptree: Take a building like St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. Living close to Tiptree Parish Field is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- A full building survey of the property
Roof by roof
Clay plain and peg tiles
Older homes in the Weald and across the South East often have clay plain tiles. Rotten pegs and battens let tiles move, leaving gaps along the courses.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a specialist is needed, we will say so.
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Keep the report with your property records
- Keep a record of damp patches and dates
The recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant. Some faults need dealing with soon, while others can wait for planned work. It makes the next steps much clearer.
Look at your roof from ground level after strong winds. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles or pieces in the garden are signs something has moved. Getting small faults fixed quickly keeps water out.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords and letting agents in CO5 book surveys as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Why act early?
Leaving it means relying on what you can see from the ground. That can lead to the wrong work being done, or to a real problem being missed. We tell you what’s really needed.
Before booking any surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Common questions in CO5
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only when it’s safe. We also use views from the ground, windows and the roof space, and Premium includes a drone where it applies.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.