Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Ulting
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Ulting.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Old water stains in the roof space
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Ulting
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and flashings that have lifted or split.
In a village or hamlet like Ulting, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Ulting (CM9)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Ulting needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
- The shape of the roof and its details
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Places near Ulting
More services for Ulting
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Ulting
Ulting lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of All Saints, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Danbury Place, about 3.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ulting. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you own a rental within reach of Hatfield Peverel station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Ulting is about 3 miles north-west of Maldon, in Essex. We survey roofs in Ulting and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small.
All of CM9 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Nounsley (1 mile north), Woodham Walter (1 mile south), Curling Tye Green (2 miles south-east), Langford (2 miles east) and Woodham Mortimer (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (5 miles west), Basildon (14 miles south-west), Braintree (9 miles north), Maldon (3 miles south-east), Billericay (12 miles south-west) and Rayleigh (11 miles south).
Landmarks near Ulting
We work in homes and buildings around The Sportsmans Arms and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Hatfield Peverel station, about 2.1 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Priory Hospital (5.3 miles west). Not far away are Danbury Ridge Nature Reserves.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ulting
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Ulting questions
Will you come out to Ulting?
Yes, Ulting is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ulting?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will recommend the right survey. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In a small place like Ulting, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Prices that include VAT
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition