Essex · London and the South East
Shenfield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Shenfield, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
When to book a survey in Shenfield
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Common reasons to book include:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Ingatestone Hall, about 3.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shenfield. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Before booking anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shenfield: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in Shenfield and across London and South East England. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’re worried about standing water on a flat extension roof and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Shenfield, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you’re buying in Shenfield or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Shenfield (CM15, CM13)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Shenfield questions
Is my home in Shenfield listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover Shenfield?
Yes, Shenfield is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Shenfield as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
Also near Shenfield
Other services in Shenfield
Local roofs and buyers in Shenfield
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots 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.
Landlords with a home close to Shenfield station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Shenfield is about 1 mile north-east of Brentwood, in Essex. Whether the building in Shenfield is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Essex. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CM15 and CM13. That includes homes and businesses on York Road, Hall Lane and Worrin Road. We also cover the places around Shenfield: Brentwood (1 mile south-west), Hutton Mount (1 mile south-east), Hutton (2 miles east), Ingrave (2 miles south-east) and Mountnessing (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (10 miles north-east), Basildon (7 miles south-east), Harlow (13 miles north-west), Canvey Island (14 miles south-east), Billericay (4 miles east) and Rayleigh (13 miles east).
Near you in Shenfield
In Shenfield, that means homes and buildings near Sawyers Hall College, Hutton Country Park and Shenfield High School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Shenfield station, about 0.5 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (0.5 miles south). The countryside around Shenfield includes Thorndon Park.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Which survey package you book
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
For a price for your roof in Shenfield, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Why get it checked now?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Around Shenfield, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls, particularly where trees overhang. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- An independent view of the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Every finding written up with photos
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a smaller place like Shenfield, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.