Essex · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Arkesden
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out roof surveys in Arkesden.
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
How a roof survey works in Arkesden
There are three levels of survey: a Basic Survey from £150, a Standard Survey from £250 and a Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photos and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, with moisture detection and a structural check, and on Premium, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable. Every package includes a written report. If you are worried about loose chimney pots and cracked mortar along the ridge, we can find out what’s behind it, on clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and lead flashings alike.
Older buildings in small places like Arkesden may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Arkesden (CB11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Hold on to the report for future surveys
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
- Tell us about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
File the report with your other home documents. It is a useful baseline for future surveys, and buyers may ask about the roof when you sell.
Every so often, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
Local roofs in Arkesden
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Historic houses such as Audley End House, about 3.5 miles north-east, show how far back building around Arkesden goes. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is. Landlords with a home close to Audley End station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Arkesden is about 4 miles south-west of Saffron Walden, in Essex. In Arkesden, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Arkesden is one of the places in Essex where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Every address in CB11 is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Clatterbury Lane, Wicken Road and Hampit Road, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Arkesden, we cover Hill Green (1 mile south), Wicken Bonhunt (1 mile south-east), Clavering (2 miles south-west), Starling's Green (2 miles south-west) and Langley (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Harlow (15 miles south), Saffron Walden (4 miles north-east), Great Dunmow (12 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (6 miles south), Newhall (15 miles south) and Elsenham (6 miles south-east).
Near you in Arkesden
In Arkesden, that means homes and buildings near Axe And Compasses Inn and the streets around them. Arkesden’s nearest station is Audley End station, roughly 2.3 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Saffron Walden Community Hospital (4.9 miles north-east) and The Warren (4 miles west).
Places near Arkesden
Other services in Arkesden
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How it works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. In a hamlet or village like Arkesden, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
FAQs for Arkesden
Is my home in Arkesden listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Arkesden within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
We do not put a figure on it, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the building (that is a RICS home survey)
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
Why it’s worth a survey now in Arkesden
Leaving it means relying on what you can see from ground level. You might pay for work that does not fix the real problem, or to a real problem being missed. A survey tells you what actually needs attention. Outbuildings and barns around Arkesden are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Why us?
- 98% of clients satisfied
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Every finding written up with photos
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Common roof problems in Arkesden
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Strong gusts work at anything that isn’t firmly fixed, and rain finds any gap it can. What starts as one slipped slate can become a leak.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Questions to ask before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection