Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Great Warley
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Warley.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a village or hamlet like Great Warley, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Great Warley
We survey roofs for buyers in Great Warley and across London and South East England. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. If you are worried about chimney mortar that has eroded and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Great Warley, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Great Warley (CM13)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Great Warley
Also in Great Warley
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Great Warley questions
How do I find out if my home in Great Warley is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover Great Warley?
Yes, Great Warley is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Great Warley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Great Warley homes and their roofs
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. Hare Hall, about 3.3 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Warley. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you own a rental within reach of Brentwood station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. For an older house near a landmark such as St. Mary the Virgin, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Great Warley is about 3 miles south of Brentwood, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Great Warley, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Essex coverage includes Great Warley and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
All of CM13 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Forge Close, Dark Lane and Great Warley Street or anywhere close by, we can help. If you’re just outside Great Warley, we cover Cranham (2 miles south), Puddle Dock (2 miles south), Harold Wood (2 miles west), Upminster (3 miles south-west) and Emerson Park (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (13 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles east), Harlow (14 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles north), Canvey Island (14 miles east) and Billericay (6 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Great Warley
Around Great Warley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Thatchers Arms Inn, Brentwood County High School and Tylers Common. For rail, the closest station is Brentwood station, roughly 1.7 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia (2.1 miles south-west) and Spire Hartswood Hospital (0.7 miles north-east). The countryside around Great Warley includes Warley Place.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
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.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Great Warley
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Great Warley and across Essex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The roof’s overall size
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The address and postcode of the property
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.