Essex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Great Dunmow, Essex
Roof leak investigations around Great Dunmow, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
Roof leak investigation in Great Dunmow: what you get
Water is good at hiding where it gets in. It can run along a rafter, a batten or the underlay before it drips, so the stain on your ceiling is seldom right under the hole. We follow it back towards where it starts. Patching the spot above the stain often misses the real cause. Finding the route first lets the repair go where it is needed. If you’re worried about staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall and damp patches next to the stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Chimney stacks on older houses around places like Great Dunmow can let water in, at the flashings, the pointing or the mortar round the pots. Damp on a chimney breast isn’t always rain from above, which is why it is worth tracing properly. It’s worth looking at the stack from outside and at the timbers beside it in the loft.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Great Dunmow (CM6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
We look at the outside of the stack and the breast inside, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection.
Valleys
Stains from a valley leak often show some distance off. From inside the loft space, we follow the water’s route back.
Also near Great Dunmow
More services for Great Dunmow
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look
- Let us know what has already been tried
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and catching wear early keeps water out.
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- House, block, shop or office
- Roof area
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Booking your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
FAQs for Great Dunmow
Do you carry out roof surveys in Great Dunmow?
Yes, Great Dunmow is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you come out to Great Dunmow?
Yes, Great Dunmow is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
Typically, yes. Moisture detection shows where materials are damp even on a dry day. If a leak only appears in driving rain from one direction, we will tell you what we found and what’s most likely.
Could my leak actually be condensation?
It is a common question. Leaks tend to follow wet weather and show in one place, while condensation is often widespread and worst on cold days. We tell you which it is most likely to be.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Where conditions suit, it can. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Roof leak investigations in Great Dunmow: local notes
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
For an older house near a landmark like Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. If you own a rental within reach of Stansted Airport station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. Hotels and guest houses near Great Dunmow cannot easily close rooms for a leak.
Great Dunmow is about 9 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. We carry out roof leak investigations in Great Dunmow for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Essex coverage includes Great Dunmow and the places around it. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CM6 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Market Place, High Street and Station Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Great Dunmow is on the B1008 and B1057, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around Great Dunmow: Church End (1 mile north-east), Little Easton (2 miles north-west), Barnston (2 miles south-east), High Roding (3 miles south-west) and Great Canfield (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles south-east), Braintree (9 miles east), Harlow (13 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (11 miles north-west) and Halstead (13 miles east).
Near you in Great Dunmow
Around Great Dunmow, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Helena Romanes School and Sixth Form Centre and The Chequers Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Stansted Airport station, about 4.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Little Easton Moat (1.6 miles north-west).
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Great Dunmow. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
How the survey works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. A visit to a smaller place like Great Dunmow 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.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
For a price for roof leak investigations in Great Dunmow, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.