Essex · London and the South East
Shellow Bowells Roof Leak Investigation
We carry out roof leak investigations in Shellow Bowells and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Stains around a skylight
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Condensation that looks like a leak
Roof leak investigation in Shellow Bowells
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit. We check parapets, valleys and flashings from every safe vantage point. Our report shows what we found, with photos. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, rooflights and dormers and flat roof details, and common reasons people get in touch are drips from nail tips in a cold loft and wet patches on loft insulation.
Being in a small place like Shellow Bowells makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: the journey and access are just planned ahead of time. It’s useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Shellow Bowells (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Leaks and storm damage in Shellow Bowells
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, 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’s detailed.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. For any home in Shellow Bowells, it’s the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Shellow Bowells is about 7 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Shellow Bowells can all book roof leak investigations, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We cover every part of the CM5 postcode area for roof leak investigations. We also cover Willingale (1 mile west), Berners Roding (1 mile west), Radley Green (2 miles south), Chalk End (2 miles north-east) and Roxwell (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (7 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Braintree (14 miles north-east), Harlow (9 miles west), Brentwood (8 miles south) and Maldon (15 miles east).
Around Shellow Bowells
Nearby you’ll also find Willingale Doe (0.7 miles west) and Chelmsford and Essex Hospital (5.7 miles east).
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Booking your survey
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Questions from Shellow Bowells
Do you cover Shellow Bowells?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Shellow Bowells is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shellow Bowells?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you look in the roof space?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Keep a note of when it leaks, and take photos. Clear access to the loft. Keep away from any light or socket that water is reaching.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it’s part of the Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so we confirm its findings with moisture readings.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How the survey works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Somewhere as small as Shellow Bowells, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it is useful.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Let us know about parking near the property
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Towns and villages near Shellow Bowells
What else we do in Shellow Bowells
Practical tips
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Do not touch fittings that water is reaching
- Do not climb onto the roof to look
- Make sure the loft is accessible
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant, so you know what to deal with first.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
Checking the roof from ground level
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.