Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Lexden
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Lexden.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lexden
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Houses in smaller places like Lexden can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather usually shows first. Whether you’re buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a careful look. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof doesn’t stay small for long.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Lexden (CO3, CO2)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Questions from Lexden
Do you cover Lexden?
Yes, Lexden is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Lexden as anywhere else.
How do I find out if my home in Lexden is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS 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 our survey gives you that closer look. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Let us know your timetable
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for loft access on the day
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lexden
Gutter problems frequently look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we check.
Problems we come across often include:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
For landlords with property near Colchester station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Questions to ask before you book
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
The survey, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. A visit to Lexden is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe 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.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Checking the roof from ground level
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Lexden
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
Take an older house close to Church of St Leonard: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Lexden is about 1 mile west of Colchester, in Essex. Anywhere in Lexden, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the CO3 and CO2 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Park Road, Heath Road and Capel Road, all of which we cover. Lexden is on the A1124, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover Camulodunum (1 mile east), Braiswick (1 mile north), Abbey Field (1 mile south-east), Colchester (1 mile east) and Beacon End (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Braintree (13 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (13 miles south-east), Maldon (13 miles south-west), Witham (11 miles south-west), Halstead (11 miles west) and Heybridge (12 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Lexden
In Lexden, that means homes and buildings near Lexden Park, Prettygate Infant School and The Sun Inn and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Colchester station, about 1.6 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Essex County Hospital (1 mile east) and Lion Walk (1.5 miles east). Not far away are Lexden Gathering Grounds.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.