Thurrock · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Tilbury
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Tilbury, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photos.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- A ridge or slope that dips
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Tilbury
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. Common reasons to book are gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and loose pots and cracked flaunching, across natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and gutters and downpipes.
Smaller places like Tilbury often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you are buying in Tilbury or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Tilbury (RM18)
- Wider area
- Thurrock
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Tilbury: local notes
Tilbury lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a proper look whether you are buying or signing off new work. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If you own a rental within reach of Tilbury Town station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Tilbury is about 2 miles south-east of Grays, in Thurrock. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Tilbury can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Thurrock coverage includes Tilbury and the places around it. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We cover every part of RM18 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Civic Square, London Road and Church Road or anywhere close by, we can help. You will find Tilbury on the A126 and A1089, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Tilbury: Biggin (1 mile north-east), West Tilbury (2 miles north-east), Chadwell St Mary (2 miles north), Milton-next-Gravesend (2 miles south-east) and Grays (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Stanford-le-Hope (5 miles north-east), South Ockendon (5 miles north-west), Balstonia (5 miles north-east), Corringham (6 miles north-east), Aveley (5 miles north-west) and South Stifford (3 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Tilbury
Around Tilbury, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Northfleet Urban Country Park. Tilbury’s nearest station is Tilbury Town station, roughly 0.5 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find Stone Castle (4 miles west) and Gravesham Community Hospital (1.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Sawyers Lake and Chafford Gorges Nature Park.
How the survey works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. A visit to a smaller place like Tilbury is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Nearby places to Tilbury
Also in Tilbury
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Tilbury
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St John the Baptist, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is added on top
Leave it or get it looked at?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Homes in smaller places like Tilbury can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why us?
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- An independent look at the roof
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask for loft access on the day
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Tilbury questions
Do you cover smaller places like Tilbury?
Yes. Tilbury is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How do I find out if my home in Tilbury is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.