Essex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Great Saling
Wondering about the leaking roof at a property in Great Saling? You can book a roof leak investigation in Great Saling and across Essex.
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Great Saling
Is my home in Great Saling listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Great Saling?
Yes, Great Saling is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a pitched roof it often runs down a rafter before it shows. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
How long does a roof leak investigation take?
On site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Report times depend on the package.
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Great Saling
Flat roofs leak in their own ways. Common causes are splits and blisters, tired upstands and outlets that don’t drain. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, so age is part of the picture. We survey slate and tile slopes, the roof space and flat roof details, and common reasons people get in touch are damp on a chimney breast and wet patches high on an inside wall.
Somewhere as small as Great Saling, older roofs have often been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, which matters if you’re thinking of an insurance claim. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- Great Saling (CM7)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What to let us know when you get in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The property’s address and postcode
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot 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.
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.
Also near Great Saling
What else we do in Great Saling
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older rural homes like those around Great Saling can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the roof space above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- We email a report with photos, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the leaking roof.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
What we’re asked to look at in Great Saling
Many leaks begin at a flashing. Lead or mortar closes the gap wherever a roof meets a wall, chimney or dormer. Once that seal cracks or lifts, water gets behind it.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St James, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Before booking anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What exactly goes into their report
Leaks and storm damage in Great Saling
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. 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 Braintree station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
Great Saling is about 4 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. Roofs in Great Saling get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Essex. Great Saling is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Roof leak investigations in CM7 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Other places close to Great Saling include Crow's Green (1 mile north-west), Bardfield Saling (1 mile north), Great Bardfield (3 miles north-west), Wethersfield (4 miles north) and Little Bardfield (4 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles south), Braintree (4 miles east), Maldon (15 miles south-east), Witham (10 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (13 miles north-west) and Halstead (8 miles east).
Near you in Great Saling
In Great Saling, that means homes and buildings near The White Hart Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Great Saling is Braintree station, about 4.1 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Braintree Community Hospital (3.2 miles south-east) and Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (3.8 miles east). Not far away are Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection.