Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Bures, Essex
A careful look at the roof at your property in Bures, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Around Bures, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- We check the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there is safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Bures
Roofs vary a lot across London and South East England. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, while many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles. Whatever yours has, the survey is adapted to it. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Every part gets the attention it needs. We survey chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings, and people most often book us about blocked, sagging or leaking gutters and water stains on rafters and ceiling joists.
Somewhere as small as Bures, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Bures (CO8)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Concrete interlocking tiles
Interlocking tiles on shallow roofs depend on their laps and fixings. Lifted or cracked tiles are noted.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Tile-hanging on walls and dormer cheeks is checked as part of the roof where it’s relevant. Gaps in tile-hanging let water reach the wall behind.
What we can’t see
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
Nearby places to Bures
What else we do in Bures
Useful tips for Bures property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- File the report with your home documents
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. You can ask us about anything that is not clear.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after major storms. Regular checks catch problems while they’re small. Each report gives a record to compare against.
Questions from Bures
Is Bures within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bures?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
How do I arrange a roof survey in Bures?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We do not give a number of years. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it is wearing, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How much does a roof survey cost in Bures?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, and it’s agreed before booking.
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
For landlords and managing agents
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Bures. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
Bures homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Living close to Tiger Hill is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Bures is in Essex. Bures gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Bures is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for roof surveys. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CO8 postcode area for roof surveys. Streets in the area include Church Square, High Street and Bridge Street, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Bures Green (1 mile north-east), Mount Bures (1 mile south), Lamarsh (1 mile north-west), Alphamstone (2 miles north-west) and Cross End (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (8 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles south-west), Camulodunum (7 miles south-east), Halstead (6 miles west) and Greenstead (9 miles south-east).
Around Bures
We work in homes and buildings around Tiger Hill and Three Horseshoes Inn. There is a railway station in Bures itself: Bures station. Well-known places in the area include Mount Bures (0.9 miles south). For a walk, there is Sergeants Orchard.
Signs you need a roof survey in Bures
Flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Over time lead flashings split, lift or work loose, and mortar fillets crack. Lead is also a target for theft.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
With Gainsborough's House about 5 miles north-west, the area around Bures has a long history. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their report turnaround times