Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Great Wigborough, Essex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Wigborough, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof survey in Great Wigborough: what you get
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you’ve noticed cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and old water stains in the roof space, we can find out what’s behind it, on gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys alike.
Older buildings in small places like Great Wigborough may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Great Wigborough (CO5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Wigborough
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Wigborough?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Great Wigborough?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
What’s the best way to book?
It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
What we do, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Great Wigborough can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- 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.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
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 will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Great Wigborough homes and their roofs
Great Wigborough is within about 3 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, 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.
Take an older house close to Church of St Stephen: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Historic houses like Layer Marney Tower, about 2.8 miles north-west, show how far back building around Great Wigborough goes. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Great Wigborough is about 6 miles south of Colchester, in Essex. Surveys in Great Wigborough work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Great Wigborough is one of the places in Essex where we work. Chelmsford is in our area too.
All of CO5 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 School Lane and Maldon Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Great Wigborough include Little Wigborough (1 mile east), Peldon (2 miles north-east), Layer Breton (2 miles north-west), Birch Green (3 miles north-west) and Layer-de-la-Haye (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (6 miles north), Braintree (14 miles north-west), Clacton-on-Sea (13 miles east), Maldon (9 miles south-west), Witham (9 miles west) and Camulodunum (6 miles north).
Around Great Wigborough
In Great Wigborough, that means homes and buildings near Kings Head Public House, among other places. A little further out are Birch Castle (3.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Great Wigborough includes Abbotts Hall Farm.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Places near Great Wigborough
Other services in Great Wigborough
Useful tips for Great Wigborough property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before it, you still have choices. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but with far less room to act on them. For an older or listed building in a place like Great Wigborough, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Surveys seven days a week
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space