Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Fordham, Essex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Fordham from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
What we do, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely. The survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. In a small place like Fordham, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The roof is inspected from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
How a roof survey works in Fordham
Everything we check, we check safely: from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where conditions allow. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, for roofs that are hard to see well. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. If you’ve noticed torn or sagging underlay and worn or blocked valleys, we can find out what’s behind it.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Fordham (CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- 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
When you need someone else
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A full building survey of the property
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Fordham
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
Signs you need a roof survey in Fordham
What’s under the slates or tiles is as important as the coverings themselves. Breathable membranes only appeared in the UK in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt, and very old ones may have none. Felt that has torn or perished stops doing its job.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
Landlords with a home close to Chappel & Wakes Colne station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What they won’t be able to tell you
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roof coverings
Some flat roofs have been coated over several times. If the covering would need opening up to know more, we say so.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Cracks in a lead valley can send water into the roof, and lead is a target for theft.
Roof surveys around Fordham
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of All Saints, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Fordham is about 5 miles north-west of Colchester, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Fordham, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Fordham is one of the places in Essex we cover for roof surveys. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
All of CO6 is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Church Road, Herring's Way and Sunnyside Road. If you are just outside Fordham, we cover Fordham Heath (1 mile south), Gallows Green (1 mile south), Wormingford (2 miles north), West Bergholt (2 miles east) and Little Horkesley (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (5 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (11 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Fordham
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Three Horseshoes Public House, among other places. Fordham’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, about 1.9 miles west. Nearby you will also find Severalls Hospital (3.9 miles east) and Mount Bures (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Fordham include Sergeants Orchard.
Fordham: your questions answered
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Chappel & Wakes Colne station?
Yes, that’s a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Will you come out to Fordham?
Yes. Fordham is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is this a RICS 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.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking. For a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain doesn’t usually stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
We do not give a number of years. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it’s wearing, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Mention any flat roofs as well as the main roof
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
- Mention any damp patches when you book
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It shows how the roof has fared over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after major storms. Routine surveys pick up wear before it leaks. Compare each report with the last.