Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Smith's Green
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Smith's Green, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Smith's Green
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you’ll be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you’re worried about gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on gutters and downpipes, lead flashings and valleys and chimney stacks alike.
For a small place like Smith's Green, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Smith's Green (CM6, CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Smith's Green
Will you come out to Smith's Green?
Yes. Smith's Green is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Smith's Green?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Smith's Green is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Stansted Airport. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it’s given. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and lead is also a target for theft.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Smith's Green
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. With Barrington Hall about 2.6 miles south-west, Smith's Green sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Stansted Airport station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Smith's Green is about 5 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. Surveys in Smith's Green work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Our Essex coverage includes Smith's Green and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CM6 and CM22. Whether your property is on Broadfield Road, The Oaks and Fleming Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Smith's Green include Little Canfield (1 mile east), Hope End Green (1 mile south), Takeley (1 mile west), Puttock's End (1 mile south) and Takeley Street (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (13 miles south-east), Braintree (12 miles east), Harlow (10 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Great Dunmow (3 miles east) and Epping (14 miles south-west).
What’s near Smith's Green
Around Smith's Green, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Lion And Lamb Public House and the streets around them. Smith's Green’s nearest station is Stansted Airport station, roughly 1.6 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Little Easton Moat (2.6 miles north-east) and Herts and Essex Hospital (4.4 miles west). The countryside around Smith's Green includes Portingbury Hills and Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Smith's Green
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Also near Smith's Green
Other services in Smith's Green
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
These details help when you contact us:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- What made you get in touch
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Smith's Green, phone 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 we’re asked to look at in Smith's Green
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
For an older house near a landmark like Church of the Holy Trinity, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Will the report include photos?
- Which limits apply to the survey
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere as small as Smith's Green, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.