Thurrock · London and the South East
Grays Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. Roof surveys in Grays, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Loose chimney pots
Honest limits
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
How a roof survey works in Grays
Many homes have several roofs, not just one. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. Flat roofs often need attention long before the main roof, so they deserve a close look. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. Typical surveys look at worn lead at chimneys and abutments and ridge tiles that have lifted or moved, on flat roofs, natural slate and the roof space.
In a town like Grays, older houses with slate or clay tile roofs usually sit alongside later estates with concrete tiles. Chimneys on older houses may be redundant, capped or leaning, and their lead flashings still need to be sound. Newer homes have fewer chimneys but their own weak points at ridges, verges and gutters.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Grays (RM17, RM16, RM20, RM18)
- Region
- Thurrock
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Grays
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Grays?
It can do. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Grays is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Is my home in Grays listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
How long does the visit take?
On site, it usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Report times depend on the package.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
The survey, step by step
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes an hour or two at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a visit in Grays, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. If there is a side gate or a rear garden, let us know how to reach it. 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.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Read more
Roof surveys in Grays: local notes
Grays lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For businesses in and around places like Lakeside Shopping Centre, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak. Take a building like Quarry Hill Academy: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Grays is about 5 miles north-east of Dartford, in Thurrock. We survey roofs in Grays and the rest of Thurrock, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Thurrock. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RM17, RM16, RM20 and RM18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a roof survey at a property on London Road, College Avenue and Cresthill Avenue or a nearby road, we can help. You’ll find Grays on the A126 and B149, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Grays: Little Thurrock (1 mile north-east), Chafford Hundred (1 mile north-west), Orsett Heath (1 mile north-east), North Stifford (2 miles north-west) and Chadwell St Mary (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Stanford-le-Hope (5 miles north-east), South Ockendon (3 miles north-west), Balstonia (5 miles north-east), Corringham (6 miles north-east), Aveley (4 miles west) and Purfleet-on-Thames (4 miles west).
Near you in Grays
We work in homes and buildings around Thurrock and Basildon College, Grays Convent High School and The Traitors Gate pub, among other places. The closest station to Grays is Grays station, about 0.6 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Stone Castle (3.6 miles south-west) and Thurrock Community Hospital (0.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Chafford Gorges Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.
Common roof problems in Grays
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 many older roofs have bitumen felt underlay, and some very old roofs have no underlay at all. Torn or sagging felt lets water through.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
Landlords with a home close to Grays station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before booking
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What the survey will not cover
- When you will get the report
How we price roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- What kind of property and roof it is
For a price for roof surveys in Grays, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Places near Grays
Other services in Grays
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings and valleys are where many leaks start. They get particular attention in every survey.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Interlocking tiles on shallow roofs depend on their laps and fixings. We look for lifted, cracked or slipped tiles, particularly at the verges and ridge.