Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Ivy Chimneys
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Ivy Chimneys from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ivy Chimneys
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. Common reasons to book are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and damp timbers or stains in the loft, across lead flashings and valleys, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate.
In a village or hamlet like Ivy Chimneys, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Ivy Chimneys (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Common questions in Ivy Chimneys
How do I find out if my home in Ivy Chimneys is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Ivy Chimneys in the area you cover?
Yes, Ivy Chimneys is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when booking.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How do I book a survey in Ivy Chimneys?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will suggest the right survey. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
Local roofs and buyers in Ivy Chimneys
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
With Hill Hall about 2.4 miles south-east, the area around Ivy Chimneys 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 live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Ivy Chimneys is about 1 mile south-west of Epping, in Essex. Whether the building in Ivy Chimneys is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Essex. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
All of CM16 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include High Road, Theydon Road and Centre Avenue. Other places close to Ivy Chimneys include Epping (1 mile north-east), Steward's Green (1 mile east), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile east), Theydon Garnon (2 miles south-east) and Hobbs Cross (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Harlow (6 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (4 miles west) and Stansted Mountfitchet (15 miles north).
Around Ivy Chimneys
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Black Lion pub and St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School. A little further out are Epping Signalling Museum (0.6 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (1.4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Ivy Chimneys include Lippitts Hill and Gernon Bushes.
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
What we cannot see
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s report
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Ivy Chimneys
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Towns and villages near Ivy Chimneys
Other services in Ivy Chimneys
What we do, step by step
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Ivy Chimneys, 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.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.