Essex · London and the South East
Smith's Green Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Smith's Green, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp on a chimney breast
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause.
Valleys
Valleys collect water from two roof slopes. Worn or split linings and slipped valley tiles let it under the coverings.
Roof leak investigation in Smith's Green
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Driving rain from one direction, melting snow or a gutter that overflows in a downpour can all set it off. Telling us when it happens helps a lot, along with any photos you’ve taken. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. If you’ve noticed water marks that spread in wet weather and staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on rooflights and dormers, valleys and parapet gutters and the roof space alike.
Many homes in small places like Smith's Green face open ground, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Smith's Green (CM6, CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Smith's Green
Also in Smith's Green
Leaks and storm damage in Smith's Green
Barrington Hall, about 2.6 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Smith's Green. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
If you look after a building like Takeley Primary School, a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside. If you live in an older home near Church of the Holy Trinity, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. If you let a flat or house near Stansted Airport station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Smith's Green is about 5 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. Bookings from Smith's Green are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Smith's Green is one of the places in Essex we cover for roof leak investigations. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Roof leak investigations in CM6 and CM22 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as Broadfield Road, The Oaks and Fleming Road, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Smith's Green: Little Canfield (1 mile east), Hope End Green (1 mile south), Takeley (1 mile west), Puttock's End (1 mile south) and Takeley Street (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (13 miles south-east), Braintree (12 miles east), Harlow (10 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Great Dunmow (3 miles east) and Epping (14 miles south-west).
What’s near Smith's Green
Typical jobs here are in homes near Lion And Lamb Public House, among other places. The closest station to Smith's Green is Stansted Airport station, roughly 1.6 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Little Easton Moat (2.6 miles north-east) and Herts and Essex Hospital (4.4 miles west). The countryside around Smith's Green includes Portingbury Hills and Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Roof area
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Which survey package you book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The property’s address and postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Smith's Green often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
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Common questions in Smith's Green
Do you carry out roof surveys in Smith's Green?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Smith's Green is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
Do you cover smaller places like Smith's Green?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Will you check the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside cannot, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs like sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
What should I do before you arrive?
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.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Make sure the loft is accessible
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Note the weather when the leak shows
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, rather than at the stain.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and catching wear early keeps water out.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Smith's Green
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.