Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burnt Heath, Essex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Burnt Heath, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burnt Heath: what you get
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. If you’ve noticed ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and loose pots and cracked flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Burnt Heath, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Burnt Heath (CO7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Burnt Heath
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Burnt Heath?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Burnt Heath, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Burnt Heath is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Burnt Heath
Burnt Heath is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Castle House, about 2.6 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Burnt Heath. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Burnt Heath is about 5 miles east of Colchester, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Burnt Heath, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
We survey roofs across the CO7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Waterhouse Lane, Back Road and Frating Road. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Bromley Cross (1 mile south), Foxash Estate (1 mile north), Little Bromley (2 miles east), Lawford (3 miles north-east) and Manningtree (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (10 miles south-east), Harwich (11 miles east), Camulodunum (6 miles west), Greenstead (3 miles south-west) and Tiptree (13 miles south-west).
What’s near Burnt Heath
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Cross Inn and Ardleigh Park, among other places. Burnt Heath’s nearest station is Manningtree station, roughly 3.1 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Colchester Castle (4.5 miles west) and The Munnings Museum (2.6 miles north). Open spaces near Burnt Heath include Cattawade Marshes.
Nearby places to Burnt Heath
Also in Burnt Heath
Common roof problems in Burnt Heath
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Landlords with a home close to Manningtree station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Are they insured for the work?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around Burnt Heath often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.