Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Nine Ashes, Essex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Nine Ashes, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Why act early in Nine Ashes
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. Older cottages and farmhouses around Nine Ashes can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Every finding written up with photos
- Surveys seven days a week
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Nine Ashes
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We’re often asked to look into a ridge or slope that dips and worn or lifted lead flashings, on clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Somewhere as small as Nine Ashes, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are 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.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Nine Ashes (CM4)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Tell us your exchange date when booking
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Nine Ashes homes and their roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. 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 Laurence: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Historic houses such as Ingatestone Hall, about 4.6 miles south-east, show how far back building around Nine Ashes goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you own a rental within reach of Ingatestone station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Nine Ashes is about 5 miles north of Brentwood, in Essex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Nine Ashes. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CM4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include Rookery Road and Nine Ashes Road, all of which we cover. Other places close to Nine Ashes include Norton Heath (1 mile north), Radley Green (2 miles north-east), Willingale (3 miles north), Loves Green (3 miles east) and Berners Roding (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (8 miles east), Basildon (11 miles south-east), Harlow (9 miles north-west), Brentwood (5 miles south), Billericay (7 miles south-east) and Rayleigh (15 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Nine Ashes
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bull Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ingatestone station, roughly 4.1 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Brentwood Community Hospital (5.4 miles south) and Willingale Doe (3.4 miles north).
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect between one and two hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. For a village or hamlet like Nine Ashes, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Keep pets in another room
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We will say if the flue needs a specialist.
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
Towns and villages near Nine Ashes
What else we do in Nine Ashes
What affects the price in Nine Ashes
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How big the roof is
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Common questions in Nine Ashes
Do you cover Nine Ashes?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Nine Ashes is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Nine Ashes listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How soon is the report ready?
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 timetable when you book.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.