Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Redbridge, Essex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Redbridge, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Redbridge
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. Common reasons to book are slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings and valleys.
Being in a small place like Redbridge makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Redbridge (IG7, IG6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Redbridge
Is Redbridge within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Redbridge is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about 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.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Redbridge?
Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Buying a home or a new roof in Redbridge
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Hare Hall, about 3.4 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Redbridge. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Redbridge is about 3 miles north-west of Romford, in Essex. Redbridge is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. London is in our area too.
Surveys in IG7 and IG6 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include Five Oaks Lane, Birnam Crescent and Aster Road, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Redbridge: Chigwell Row (1 mile north-west), Chase Cross (2 miles east), Lambourne End (2 miles north), Stapleford Abbotts (2 miles north-east) and Havering-atte-Bower (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Basildon (14 miles east), Harlow (11 miles north), Brentwood (7 miles east), Billericay (12 miles east), Loughton (4 miles north-west) and Waltham Abbey (8 miles north-west).
Near you in Redbridge
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Chigwell Row Wood and The Forest Academy. The closest station to Redbridge is Chadwell Heath station, roughly 2.8 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Romford Shopping Hall (2.7 miles south-east) and King George Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). The countryside around Redbridge includes Hainault Lodge.
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around Redbridge frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave side gates unlocked
Book a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Redbridge, 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.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
When to book a survey in Redbridge
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It is often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
We are often asked to look at:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Landlords with a home close to Chadwell Heath station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the price includes VAT
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
Landlord and commercial surveys in Redbridge
Landlords, agents and building managers in Redbridge and across Essex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.