Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Howe Green, Essex
A careful look at the roof at your property in Howe Green, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Howe Green
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Common reasons to book are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and blocked or leaking gutters, on the roof space, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
Some older homes in villages like Howe Green are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Howe Green (CM2)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Towns and villages near Howe Green
Also in Howe Green
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Howe Green homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty 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.
Take an older house close to Church of St Andrew: older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you own a rental within reach of Chelmsford station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Howe Green is about 3 miles south-east of Chelmsford, in Essex. We survey roofs in Howe Green as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Essex.
Surveys in CM2 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Chalklands, Southend Road and The Tythings or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover East Hanningfield (2 miles south-east), West Hanningfield (2 miles south-west), Bicknacre (2 miles east), Rettendon (3 miles south) and South Hanningfield (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (3 miles north-west), Basildon (9 miles south), Braintree (13 miles north), Brentwood (11 miles south-west), Maldon (7 miles east) and Canvey Island (12 miles south).
Around Howe Green
For rail, the closest station is Chelmsford station, roughly 3.6 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Bond Street Chelmsford (3.3 miles north-west) and Baddow Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Howe Green includes Hanningfield Reservoir.
Howe Green questions
Is Howe Green in the area you cover?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Howe Green is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
Do you cover smaller places like Howe Green?
Yes, Howe Green is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Howe Green
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Howe Green. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Howe Green
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on any day of the week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Outbuildings and barns around Howe Green are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Howe Green
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- A written report with photos
- Weekday and weekend surveys
How it works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older roofs in small places like Howe Green can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us 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.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
We confirm the price for the job before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
When to book a survey in Howe Green
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. 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 like:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Historic houses like Danbury Place, about 1.7 miles north-east, show how far back building around Howe Green goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- When you will get the report