Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Foster Street, Essex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Roof surveys in Foster Street.
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
About our roof survey in Foster Street
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages often have flat roofs. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. A flat roof typically wears out sooner than a pitched one, so they deserve a proper look. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber can last 30 to 50. Typical surveys look at crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and slates or tiles that have slipped or broken, on ridges, hips and valleys, the roof space and lead flashings.
Somewhere as small as Foster Street, homes are often 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Place
- Foster Street (CM17)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you’re planning to sell, a roof survey can help you prepare. You can deal with defects before a buyer’s surveyor finds them, or at least know what to expect. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Foster Street, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What affects the cost of roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- House, block, shop or office
All our prices include VAT. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
The survey, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like Foster Street needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- Coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Tell us about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
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Places near Foster Street
Also in Foster Street
Common roof problems in Foster Street
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the building.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Questions to ask before you book
- What experience they bring
- When you will get the report
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What exactly goes into their report
Foster Street homes and their roofs
Foster Street is part of Harlow, one of the post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. On homes of that age, felt underlay, flat roofs, gutters and fixings may all be due attention. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Henry Moore Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For landlords with property near Harlow Mill station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Foster Street is about 2 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Foster Street can all book roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Essex coverage includes Foster Street. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We cover every part of the CM17 postcode area for roof surveys. We offer roof surveys to properties on Foster Street, Highfield Close and Hastingwood Park. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Hastingwood (1 mile south), Newhall (1 mile north-west), Latton (1 mile west), Magdalen Laver (1 mile east) and Housham Tye (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (14 miles east), Brentwood (11 miles south-east), Billericay (15 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west) and Great Dunmow (12 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Foster Street
We work in homes and buildings around John Barleycorn Public House, Passmores Academy and Brays Grove and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Mill station, roughly 2.3 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Princess Alexandra Hospital (3 miles west) and Harlow Mill (2.4 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Gernon Bushes.
FAQs for Foster Street
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Foster Street worth including?
Yes, if you’d like it included, mention it when booking. On buildings from before 2000, cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos and should be checked by a specialist asbestos surveyor before anyone disturbs them.
Will you come out to Foster Street?
Yes, Foster Street is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. It is emailed to you.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing isn’t part of our service. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
How long does the visit take?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Keep a record of damp patches and dates
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
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.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and daylight through the roof. Photograph anything new.