Essex · London and the South East
Great Braxted Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Braxted, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Great Braxted: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. 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 look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We survey the roof space, gutters and downpipes and natural slate, and the problems we are asked to look at most are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Being in a small place like Great Braxted makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Great Braxted (CM8)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. Blocked outlets are checked as well.
Towns and villages near Great Braxted
What else we do in Great Braxted
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Great Braxted
Great Braxted lies within about 5 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, so exposed details get a proper look whether you are buying or signing off new work. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Layer Marney Tower, about 4.7 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Braxted. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of All Saints, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Great Braxted is about 3 miles east of Witham, in Essex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Great Braxted and the surrounding area. Great Braxted is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CM8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Bung Row and Tiptree Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Great Braxted: Beacon Hill (1 mile south-west), Great Totham (2 miles south), Wickham Bishops (2 miles south-west), Broad Street Green (3 miles south) and Langford (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (11 miles north-east), Chelmsford (10 miles south-west), Braintree (8 miles north-west), Maldon (5 miles south), Rayleigh (15 miles south) and Witham (3 miles west).
Landmarks near Great Braxted
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Green Man pub and Whet Mead. Great Braxted’s nearest station is Witham station, about 2.6 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Anchor Press Museum (2.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Great Braxted include Shut Heath Wood.
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Great Braxted?
Gutter problems frequently look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we look at.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
If you own a rental within reach of Witham station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- When you will get the report
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
For a price for your roof in Great Braxted, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Braxted, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Great Braxted needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Questions from Great Braxted
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Braxted?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Great Braxted, take more of a battering?
Frequently, yes. Within about 5 miles of the sea, as Great Braxted is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Useful tips for Great Braxted property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Let us know your timetable
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.