Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Bush Fair, Essex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Bush Fair, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Parking around Bush Fair is normally easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
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How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Bush Fair
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed quick fixes on flashings and valleys and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Smaller places like Bush Fair often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in Bush Fair or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Bush Fair (CM18, CM17, CM20)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Bush Fair
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re frequently the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which matters if work is needed.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
If you let a flat or house near Harlow Town station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What follow-up you get after the report
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Also near Bush Fair
What else we do in Bush Fair
What happens if roof problems are left?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. With lower homes, common in places like Bush Fair, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
- A written report with photographs
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Local roofs and buyers in Bush Fair
Harlow, which Bush Fair is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Whether you’re buying or replacing a roof, low pitches and flat-roofed additions deserve a careful look. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to St Stephen: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Bush Fair is about 1 mile south of Harlow, in Essex. Bush Fair gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Bush Fair is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CM18, CM17 and CM20 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Tysea Road, Tawneys Road and Tracyes Road or a nearby road, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Latton (1 mile north-east), Harlow (1 mile north), Netteswell (1 mile north), Mark Hall South (1 mile north) and Newhall (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Brentwood (12 miles south-east), Loughton (8 miles south), Waltham Abbey (7 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (4 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (11 miles north).
Local landmarks in Bush Fair
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Poplar Kitten pub, Hawkenbury Meadow and Passmores Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Bush Fair is Harlow Town station, roughly 1.8 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.5 miles north) and Harlow Mill (2.3 miles north). Open spaces near Bush Fair include Hunsdon Mead.
Questions from Bush Fair
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Bush Fair worth including?
Normally, yes: tell us about it when you book so the visit can include it. Many homes in new towns like Harlow have flat-roofed garages and porches, and felt roofs often last around 15–20 years.
Is Bush Fair within the area you cover?
Yes. Bush Fair is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.