Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Bures Green, Essex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Bures Green, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Bures Green
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs frequently passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. If you’ve noticed gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Bures Green, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
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
- Bures Green (CO8)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Bures Green
With Gainsborough's House about 4.5 miles north-west, Bures Green sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Bures station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Bures Green is in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Bures Green, we can survey the roof. Across Essex, we cover Bures Green. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Here we cover the CO8 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Bures Green include Bures (1 mile south-west), Lamarsh (1 mile west), Mount Bures (2 miles south), Alphamstone (2 miles west) and Cross End (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (8 miles south-east), Braintree (12 miles south-west), Witham (14 miles south-west), Camulodunum (8 miles south-east), Halstead (7 miles south-west) and Greenstead (9 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Bures Green
Typical jobs here are in homes near Tiger Hill and Angel Inn, among other places. Bures Green’s nearest station is Bures station, about 1 mile south-west. Well-known places in the area include Mount Bures (1.7 miles south). For a walk, there is Arger Fen.
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around Bures Green frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Bures Green
Is Bures Green within the area you cover?
Yes, Bures Green is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Bures Green?
Yes, Bures Green is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it usually takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What happens if roof problems are left?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In a small place like Bures Green, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why us?
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Also near Bures Green
Other services in Bures Green
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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 affects the price in Bures Green
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
Helping us price your survey
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What made you get in touch
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.