Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in High Ongar, Essex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across High Ongar, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
About our pre-purchase roof survey in High Ongar
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are slipped or missing slates and tiles and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
For a small place like High Ongar, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- High Ongar (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around High Ongar, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
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Also near High Ongar
Other services in High Ongar
Common roof problems in High Ongar
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
In and around High Ongar, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Questions to ask before booking
- Are they insured for the work?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What the survey will not cover
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Common questions in High Ongar
Is my home in High Ongar listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to High Ongar?
Yes, High Ongar is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Why act early in High Ongar
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today. For older village homes like those around High Ongar, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in High Ongar
- Prices that include VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photos and a written report every time
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs 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.
Booking your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. It’s enough to tell us:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Buying a home or a new roof in High Ongar
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
High Ongar is about 6 miles north of Brentwood, in Essex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in High Ongar and nearby. High Ongar is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Here we cover the CM5 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as The Street, Mill Lane and Millfield, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside High Ongar, we cover Chipping Ongar (1 mile west), Shelley (1 mile north-west), Norton Mandeville (1 mile north-east), King Street (1 mile east) and Greensted (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (10 miles east), Basildon (12 miles south-east), Harlow (8 miles north-west), Brentwood (6 miles south), Billericay (9 miles south-east) and Loughton (9 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in High Ongar
In High Ongar, that means homes and buildings near Red Lion Public House and The Ongar Academy and the streets around them. A little further out are Willingale Doe (3.7 miles north-east).