Essex · London and the South East
Daws Heath Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Daws Heath. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Daws Heath
If you are 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 often 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. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We survey lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles, and people most frequently book us about old water stains in the roof space and quick fixes on flashings and valleys.
For a small place like Daws Heath, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Where
- Daws Heath (SS7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Daws 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.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Landlords with a home close to Rayleigh station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether VAT is added on top
Daws Heath: your questions answered
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Daws Heath, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Do you cover smaller places like Daws Heath?
Yes. Daws Heath is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
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.
Nearby places to Daws Heath
More services for Daws Heath
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Daws Heath
Daws Heath is within about 3 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you live in an older home near St Michael's and All Angels, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Daws Heath is about 1 mile east of Thundersley, in Essex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Daws Heath for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our Essex coverage includes Daws Heath and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: SS7. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Western Road, Wyburn Road and Marlin Close or anywhere close by, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hadleigh (1 mile south), Rayleigh (2 miles north), Leigh-on-Sea (2 miles south-east), Eastwood (2 miles east) and Stroud Green (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (13 miles north-west), Basildon (7 miles west), Brentwood (14 miles west), Maldon (11 miles north), Canvey Island (3 miles south) and Billericay (9 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Daws Heath
Around Daws Heath, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Hadleigh Farm and Westwood Academy, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Rayleigh station, roughly 1.6 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Bay Museum (3.9 miles south) and Chartwell Private Hospital (1.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Pound Wood.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Daws Heath, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, 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 is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Check pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Useful tips for Daws Heath property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Let us know your timetable
- Share the report with your solicitor
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we cannot promise any result.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.