Essex · London and the South East
High Garrett Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys across High Garrett, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are frequently the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in High Garrett
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you’ve noticed loose pots and cracked flaunching and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it, on the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate alike.
Older buildings in small places like High Garrett 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, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- High Garrett (CM7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Around High Garrett, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in High Garrett
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Every finding written up with photos
- 98% of clients satisfied
When you need someone else
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in High Garrett
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty of 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. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you own a rental within reach of Braintree station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. Whatever the street in High Garrett, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
High Garrett is about 2 miles north of Braintree, in Essex. Whether the building in High Garrett is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. High Garrett is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
All of CM7 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Garrett, Grove Field and Sunnyfields Road and the roads around them. Other places close to High Garrett include Bocking Churchstreet (1 mile south-west), Gosfield (2 miles north), Beazley End (2 miles north-west), Church End (3 miles west) and Shalford (4 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (14 miles east), Chelmsford (13 miles south), Maldon (13 miles south), Witham (8 miles south), Camulodunum (13 miles east) and Halstead (3 miles north-east).
Around High Garrett
In High Garrett, that means homes and buildings near Tabor Academy and Bocking Blackwater and the streets around them. The closest station to High Garrett is Braintree station, roughly 2.6 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (1.7 miles south-west) and Braintree Community Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Places near High Garrett
More services for High Garrett
FAQs for High Garrett
Do you cover smaller places like High Garrett?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in High Garrett?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
How the survey works
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. All in, the survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around High Garrett, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Check pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.