Thurrock · London and the South East
Biggin Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Biggin and the rest of Thurrock. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Biggin
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. We survey gutters and downpipes, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
Older buildings in small places like Biggin may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Biggin (RM16)
- Wider area
- Thurrock
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Biggin
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Biggin, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Biggin is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Biggin?
Yes. Biggin is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Towns and villages near Biggin
What else we do in Biggin
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
Local roofs and buyers in Biggin
Biggin lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Tilbury Town station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Biggin is about 2 miles east of Grays, in Thurrock. We visit Biggin as part of our work across Thurrock, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Biggin is one of the towns and villages in Thurrock we cover. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RM16 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in West Tilbury (1 mile east), Chadwell St Mary (1 mile north), Tilbury (1 mile south-west), Orsett Heath (1 mile north-west) and Little Thurrock (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stanford-le-Hope (4 miles north-east), South Ockendon (5 miles north-west), Balstonia (4 miles north-east), Corringham (5 miles north-east), Aveley (6 miles west) and South Stifford (3 miles west).
What’s near Biggin
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Thurrock and Basildon College, The Kings Head pub and The Gateway Academy. The closest station to Biggin is Tilbury Town station, about 1.2 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Gravesham Community Hospital (2.2 miles south) and Walton Hall Museum (2.1 miles north-east). The countryside around Biggin includes Thurrock Thameside Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.
When to book a survey in Biggin
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
People typically book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What insurance they carry
- Will the report include photos?
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Book once your offer is accepted
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Biggin
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT.
Booking your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a hamlet or village like Biggin, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 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.