Essex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Great Canfield, Essex
We carry out roof leak investigations in Great Canfield and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Stains around a skylight
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Roof leak investigation in Great Canfield: what you get
Our roof leak investigations cover Great Canfield and the wider South East. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. We look inside and out, at flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details. The findings come in a written report with photos. If water is coming in now, catch it in a bucket and keep it away from lights and sockets, and then phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’ve noticed staining around the chimney inside and water marks that spread in wet weather, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Great Canfield, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Great Canfield (CM6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Great Canfield
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. With Barrington Hall about 2.9 miles west, Great Canfield sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For landlords with property near Stansted Airport station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Great Canfield is about 3 miles south-west of Great Dunmow, in Essex. We survey roofs in Great Canfield and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Essex. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Surveys in CM6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include The Street and Canfield Road, and we cover them all. We also cover High Roding (1 mile east), Roundbush Green (2 miles south), Keeres Green (2 miles south), High Easter (2 miles south-east) and Stagden Cross (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (10 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles east), Harlow (10 miles south-west), Brentwood (14 miles south), Billericay (15 miles south) and Witham (14 miles east).
Local landmarks in Great Canfield
We work in homes and buildings around The Black Lion Public House, among other places. Great Canfield’s nearest station is Stansted Airport station, roughly 4.5 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Little Easton Moat (3.8 miles north). Open spaces near Great Canfield include Portingbury Hills.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Water and electrics don’t mix. If water is reaching a light fitting or switch, keep clear of it and have an electrician check it. Finding where the water is getting in should follow straight away. In a small place like Great Canfield, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book with us
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Surveys seven days a week
- An independent view of the roof
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around Great Canfield frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Read more
Towns and villages near Great Canfield
Other services in Great Canfield
FAQs for Great Canfield
Is my home in Great Canfield 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. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Great Canfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Great Canfield is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Can a leak be traced on a dry day?
Often, yes. Stains, tide marks, damp timbers and moisture readings normally point the way. Some leaks only show in particular weather, so your photos and notes from wet days are very useful.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Useful tips for Great Canfield property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes one in person. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Photograph anything new.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Great Canfield?
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can send that water under the coverings. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp underlay across a wide area
If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Mary, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- When you will get the report
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
How the survey changes by roof type
Valleys
Stains from a valley leak often show some distance off. From inside the roof space, we follow the water’s route back.
Parapet and box gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley gutter in the middle. Problems there often show in the rooms on the top floor.