Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Brentwood
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Brentwood and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Brentwood
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you’re tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. We’re often asked to look into ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, across flat-roofed extensions and dormers, lead flashings and valleys and chimney stacks.
In a town like Brentwood, older streets typically sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you’re buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have, from fixings and underlay to ridges and valleys. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Brentwood (CM13, CM14, CM15, CM4)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
FAQs for Brentwood
Is there anything to prepare before you come to Brentwood?
Clear the way to the loft hatch if there is one, and tell us about any leaks, stains or past repairs. Let us know about parking and access in Brentwood too.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Brentwood?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Do you cover Brentwood?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Brentwood included.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Places near Brentwood
More services for Brentwood
Checking the roof from the ground
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What we can’t see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit in Brentwood runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you will not be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will suggest the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Brentwood
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Brentwood has a long history of building, with Ingatestone Hall about 4.4 miles north-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you let a flat or house near Brentwood station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Brentwood is about 19 miles north-east of London, in Essex. Whether the building in Brentwood is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Brentwood is one of the places in Essex where we work. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CM13, CM14, CM15 and CM4 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on High Street, London Road and Old Church Road or a nearby road, we can help. Brentwood sits on or near the A12 and A128. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Shenfield (1 mile north-east), Hutton Mount (1 mile east), Ingrave (2 miles south-east), Hutton (2 miles east) and Doddinghurst (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (13 miles north-west), Canvey Island (14 miles south-east), Billericay (5 miles east) and Rayleigh (13 miles east). Brentwood is among the bigger towns we cover in Essex.
What’s near Brentwood
We work in homes and buildings around Sawyers Hall College, Weald Country Park and St Helen's Catholic Junior School. The closest station to Brentwood is Brentwood station, about 0.9 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (0.5 miles east). Open spaces near Brentwood include Thorndon Park.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Brentwood
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 with less disruption.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
What affects the price in Brentwood
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The roof’s overall size
- Height and safe access
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the exact price before booking.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.