Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Mountnessing
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Mountnessing, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
FAQs for Mountnessing
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Mountnessing?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Mountnessing?
Yes, Mountnessing is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Mountnessing: what you get
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and the roof space, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are blocked or leaking gutters and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
In a village or hamlet like Mountnessing, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Mountnessing (CM15)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- House, block, shop or office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The shape of the roof and its details
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Mountnessing, call 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
When you need someone else
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Mountnessing
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. With Ingatestone Hall about 1.6 miles east, Mountnessing sits in an area with a long building history. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Ingatestone station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Mountnessing is about 3 miles north-east of Brentwood, in Essex. Surveys in Mountnessing work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Surveys in CM15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Church Road, Roman Close and Roman Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Mountnessing, we cover Swallows Cross (1 mile north-west), Green Street (1 mile north), Ingatestone (1 mile north-east), Buttsbury (2 miles east) and Hutton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (8 miles north-east), Basildon (7 miles south-east), Harlow (13 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles south-west), Maldon (15 miles east) and Canvey Island (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Mountnessing
Around Mountnessing, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Shenfield High School, Hutton Country Park and George and Dragon pub and the streets around them. Mountnessing’s nearest station is Ingatestone station, about 1.6 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Brentwood Community Hospital (2.7 miles south-west). The countryside around Mountnessing includes Norsey Wood.
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a hamlet or village like Mountnessing, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.