Essex · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Chignall Smealy
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Chignall Smealy, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
Do you need a roof survey in Chignall Smealy?
Every roof takes years of rain, wind, sun and frost. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and rain finds any gap it can. What starts as one slipped slate can become a leak.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Worn or blocked valleys
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Nicholas, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How soon the report will arrive
Roof survey in Chignall Smealy: what you get
We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows and other vantage points, from inside the loft and from the roof itself where it is safe. Premium adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, which helps with tall or steep roofs. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Everything we see is photographed for the report. Common reasons to book are valley linings that have cracked or split and torn or sagging underlay, on natural slate, chimney stacks and flat roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Chignall Smealy are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. 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 records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Location
- Chignall Smealy (CM1)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Mention any damp patches as you book
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
- Photograph stains when they appear
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It shows how the roof has fared over the year.
Look at your roof from ground level after strong winds. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles or pieces in the garden are signs something has moved. Getting small faults fixed quickly keeps water out.
Roof by roof
Clay plain and peg tiles
Tile-hanging on walls and dormer cheeks is checked as part of the roof where it’s relevant. Loose or missing tiles there let rain into the wall.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They last well, but their surface erodes slowly, and they can crack.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Chignall Smealy
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. In a small place like Chignall Smealy, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Read more
FAQs for Chignall Smealy
Is my home in Chignall Smealy listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Chignall Smealy within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We send it by email.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when you book.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
What does a roof survey include?
Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, plus the loft space where there is safe access. The report includes photos and recommendations.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Chignall Smealy
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses like Hylands, about 4.7 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Chignall Smealy goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Newlands Spring Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. For businesses in and around places such as Bond Street Chelmsford, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Chignall Smealy is about 4 miles north-west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Chignall Smealy gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages.
We survey roofs across the CM1 postcode area for roof surveys. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Chignall St James (1 mile south), Breeds (2 miles north-east), Great Waltham (2 miles north-east), Minnow End (2 miles east) and Broomfield (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (4 miles south-east), Basildon (14 miles south), Braintree (9 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south-west) and Maldon (12 miles east).
What’s near Chignall Smealy
Typical jobs here are in homes near Pig and Whistle pub, among other places. The closest station to Chignall Smealy is Chelmsford station, roughly 3.6 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Bond Street Chelmsford (4 miles south-east) and Peter Edwards Museum And Library (3.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Little Waltham Meadows.
Towns and villages near Chignall Smealy
More services for Chignall Smealy
Landlord and commercial surveys in Chignall Smealy
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.