Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Weald Bassett, Essex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in North Weald Bassett. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- A ridge or slope that dips
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in North Weald Bassett
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. We survey chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Houses in smaller places like North Weald Bassett can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather usually shows first. Whether you are buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a close look. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof doesn’t stay small for long.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- North Weald Bassett (CM16)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near North Weald Bassett
Also in North Weald Bassett
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. In a smaller place like North Weald Bassett, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest.
- 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Book a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
What affects the price in North Weald Bassett
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- When you need the report by
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in North Weald Bassett, call 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in North Weald Bassett
With Hill Hall about 3 miles south, North Weald Bassett sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
North Weald Bassett is about 4 miles south-east of Harlow, in Essex. Bookings from North Weald Bassett are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Essex, we cover North Weald Bassett. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the CM16 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Blenheim Square, Elm Gardens and Wheelers Farm Gardens and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Thornwood Common (2 miles west), Coopersale (2 miles south-west), Hastingwood (2 miles north), Magdalen Laver (3 miles north) and Foster Street (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (14 miles east), Harlow (4 miles north-west), Brentwood (9 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles south-east), Loughton (6 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (7 miles west).
Near you in North Weald Bassett
We work in homes and buildings around The Kings Head Public House and Weald Common Flood Meadows and the streets around them. A little further out are St. Margaret's Hospital (2 miles south-west) and Epping Signalling Museum (2.8 miles south-west). The countryside around North Weald Bassett includes Gernon Bushes.
Why act early in North Weald Bassett
Plenty of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Arranging work in a smaller place like North Weald Bassett is easier with notice than in an emergency. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book us in North Weald Bassett
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- An independent view of the roof
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
What we are asked to look at in North Weald Bassett
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we check.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Old water stains in the roof space
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Andrew: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Useful tips for North Weald Bassett property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Common questions in North Weald Bassett
Do you cover smaller places like North Weald Bassett?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is drone flying allowed in North Weald Bassett?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. North Weald Airfield is about 1 mile away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. We survey on any day of the week.
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.