Thurrock · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Grays, Thurrock
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Grays and the rest of Thurrock. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blocked or leaking gutters
What we are asked to look at in Grays
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you let a flat or house near Grays station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Which limits apply to the survey
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Grays
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 is not a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. Common reasons to book are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, across the roof space, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
In a town like Grays, older streets typically sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you are buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
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 it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Grays (RM17, RM16, RM20, RM18)
- Region
- Thurrock
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Grays
Also in Grays
Common questions in Grays
Do you cover Grays?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Grays is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Grays?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How the survey 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’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit in Grays runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you won’t be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from 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
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Arrange a survey
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 use the contact form to find out.
Related advice
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Grays
We confirm the exact price before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- House, block, shop or office
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How big the roof is
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What to let us know when you get in touch
These details help when you contact us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Grays homes and their roofs
Grays is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near St John the Evangelist, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Grays is about 5 miles north-east of Dartford, in Thurrock. From houses to flats and shops in Grays, the roof can be surveyed. Our Thurrock coverage includes Grays and the places around it. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Every address in RM17, RM16, RM20 and RM18 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets like London Road, College Avenue and Cresthill Avenue, and we cover them all. Main roads around Grays include the A126 and B149, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Grays: Little Thurrock (1 mile north-east), Chafford Hundred (1 mile north-west), Orsett Heath (1 mile north-east), North Stifford (2 miles north-west) and Chadwell St Mary (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Stanford-le-Hope (5 miles north-east), South Ockendon (3 miles north-west), Balstonia (5 miles north-east), Corringham (6 miles north-east), Aveley (4 miles west) and Purfleet-on-Thames (4 miles west).
Near you in Grays
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Thurrock and Basildon College, Grays Convent High School and The Traitors Gate pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Grays is Grays station, roughly 0.6 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Stone Castle (3.6 miles south-west) and Thurrock Community Hospital (0.9 miles north). For a walk, there is Chafford Gorges Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.