Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Higham, Essex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Higham, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
When to book a survey in Higham
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Flashings that have lifted or split
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
Pre-purchase roof survey in Higham
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’re tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the loft space where it’s safe to get in. You get a written report with photographs. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles, and common reasons people get in touch are chimney mortar that has eroded and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
Being in a small place like Higham makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- Higham (CO7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere like Higham needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
How to book
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
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Higham questions
Is the coastal weather around Higham hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is Higham within the area you cover?
Yes. Higham is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How do I book a survey in Higham?
To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as 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 access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
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 an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the loft space, we report what we can see of it.
Buying a home or a new roof in Higham
Higham is within about 5 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
With Castle House about 2.6 miles south-east, the area around Higham has a long history. 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 you own a rental within reach of Manningtree station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Higham is about 7 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. In Higham, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We cover every part of the CO7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Stratford St Mary (1 mile south-east), Thorington Street (1 mile west), Holton St Mary (2 miles north-east), Withermarsh Green (2 miles north-west) and Dedham (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (7 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Harwich (13 miles east), Camulodunum (8 miles south-west), Halstead (14 miles west) and Greenstead (6 miles south).
Local landmarks in Higham
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Swan Inn, among other places. Higham’s nearest station is Manningtree station, roughly 4.2 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Severalls Hospital (5.2 miles south-west) and Little Wenham Castle (3.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Higham includes Cattawade Marshes.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords and letting agents in Higham book surveys as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.