Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Chigwell Row
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Chigwell Row and across Essex.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Chigwell Row
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We are frequently asked to look into lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and chimney mortar that has eroded, across the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate.
Some older homes in villages like Chigwell Row are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Chigwell Row (IG7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Rural addresses near Chigwell Row can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Why get it checked now?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chigwell Row, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before you book.
Why book with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Chigwell Row
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.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
FAQs for Chigwell Row
Is my home in Chigwell Row listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Chigwell Row?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will recommend the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Places near Chigwell Row
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What we can’t see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Checking the roof from ground level
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Local roofs and buyers in Chigwell Row
In Essex, older buildings are often 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. Chigwell Row is about 3 miles from Stapleford Aerodrome. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near All Saints Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you own a rental within reach of Chadwell Heath station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Valentines Mansion lies about 3.9 miles south-west, so building around Chigwell Row goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Chigwell Row is about 3 miles south-east of Loughton, in Essex. In Chigwell Row, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Essex coverage includes Chigwell Row and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
We work across IG7 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on All Saints Close, Romford Road and Lambourne Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Chigwell Row: Lambourne End (1 mile north-east), Redbridge (1 mile south-east), Lambourne (2 miles north-east), Abridge (2 miles north) and Stapleford Abbotts (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Basildon (15 miles east), Harlow (10 miles north), Brentwood (8 miles east), Billericay (13 miles east), Loughton (3 miles north-west) and Waltham Abbey (6 miles north-west).
Near you in Chigwell Row
We work in homes and buildings around Forest Academy and Chigwell Row Wood. The closest station to Chigwell Row is Chadwell Heath station, about 3.6 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Romford Shopping Hall (4 miles south-east) and Claybury Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Lippitts Hill and Highams Park Lake.