Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chigwell, Essex
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Chigwell and across Essex.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chigwell
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. We survey gutters and downpipes, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are old water stains in the roof space and a ridge or slope that dips.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Chigwell, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Chigwell. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Chigwell (IG7, IG8, IG6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What you can safely check yourself
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 part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. A visit to a smaller place like Chigwell is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
Common roof problems in Chigwell
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we look at.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Winifred, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their report turnaround times
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Towns and villages near Chigwell
What else we do in Chigwell
Why get it checked now?
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. In a smaller place like Chigwell, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing does not stay loose for long. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Common questions in Chigwell
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chigwell?
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.
Is Chigwell in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How do I book a survey in Chigwell?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
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. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Local roofs and buyers in Chigwell
Historic houses such as Valentines Mansion, about 2.9 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Chigwell goes. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Landlords with a home close to Chingford station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Chigwell is about 2 miles east of Woodford, in Essex. Anywhere in Chigwell, we can come and survey your property. Our Essex coverage includes Chigwell. London is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: IG7, IG8 and IG6. Streets in the area include Station Road, Hainault Road and Lechmere Avenue, and we cover them all. With the A113 and A123 close by, Chigwell is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you’re just outside Chigwell, we cover Hainault (1 mile south-east), Woodford Bridge (1 mile south-west), Buckhurst Hill (2 miles north-west), Woodford Wells (2 miles west) and Woodford (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Harlow (11 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles east), Billericay (15 miles east), Waltham Abbey (6 miles north-west), Epping (6 miles north) and Harold Wood (7 miles east).
What’s near Chigwell
We work in homes and buildings around The Kings Head Hotel, Chigwell Row Wood and West Hatch High School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Chingford station, about 3.2 miles north-west. Nearby you’ll also find The Epping Forest Museum (3 miles north-west) and Claybury Hospital (0.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Roding Valley Meadows and Pole Hill.