Essex · London and the South East
Old Heath Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Heath and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Old Heath
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. We are often asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and standing water on a flat extension roof, across the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Old Heath, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Old Heath. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Old Heath (CO2, CO1, CO4)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in Old Heath
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Spotting it before you buy lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Blocked gutters on homes around Old Heath overflow and soak walls. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
For a price for your roof in Old Heath, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Nearby places to Old Heath
More services for Old Heath
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Book once your offer is accepted
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Heath
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Old Heath, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Old Heath is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Is Old Heath within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when you book.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
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.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Heath: local notes
Old Heath is within about 4 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of 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.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Barnabas, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near Hythe station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Old Heath is about 1 mile south of Greenstead, in Essex. We visit Old Heath as part of our work across Essex. Old Heath is one of the places in Essex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CO2, CO1 and CO4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Wick Road, Haven Road and D'arcy Road or a nearby road, we can help. If you’re just outside Old Heath, we cover The Hythe (1 mile north), Berechurch (1 mile south-west), Rowhedge (1 mile south-east), Greenstead (1 mile north) and Wivenhoe Cross (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Clacton-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Maldon (14 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles west), Harwich (15 miles east), Halstead (13 miles west) and Heybridge (13 miles south-west).
What’s near Old Heath
Around Old Heath, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Bell pub, Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College and Donyland Lodge and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Hythe station, about 1 mile north of the centre. A little further out are Essex County Hospital (1.9 miles north-west) and Grandad's Photography Museum (1.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Old Heath includes Cockaynes Wood.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- House, block, shop or office
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
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.
What to tell us when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Old Heath
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
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 around your tenants.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. A visit to a smaller place like Old Heath is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Heath, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.