Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Great Maplestead, Essex
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Great Maplestead, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
How we price roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Roof survey in Great Maplestead: what you get
We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows, from the roof 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. Everything we see is photographed for the report. Common reasons to book are lifted, split or missing lead flashings and condensation or damp timbers in the loft, on clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and the roof space.
Somewhere as small as Great Maplestead, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. 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.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Great Maplestead (CO9)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Great Maplestead
Historic houses such as Hedingham Castle, about 1.6 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Great Maplestead goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you look after a building such as St Giles' Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Great Maplestead is about 3 miles north of Halstead, in Essex. Great Maplestead is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Essex coverage includes Great Maplestead and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Roof surveys in CO9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a roof survey at a property on Monks Lodge Road and Church Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Little Maplestead (1 mile east), Wickham St Paul (2 miles north-east), Halstead (3 miles south), Pebmarsh (3 miles east) and Colne Engaine (4 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (13 miles south-east), Braintree (7 miles south-west), Witham (12 miles south), Camulodunum (12 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (14 miles south-west) and Greenstead (14 miles south-east).
What’s near Great Maplestead
Typical jobs here are in homes near Hedingham School and Sixth Form and the streets around them. A little further out are Halstead Hospital (2.2 miles south) and Hedingham Castle (1.6 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
When to book a survey in Great Maplestead
Wherever a roof meets a wall, a chimney or another roof, a flashing keeps water out. Over time lead flashings split, lift or work loose, and mortar fillets crack. Missing lead isn’t unusual either, as thieves target it.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Giles, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Places near Great Maplestead
More services for Great Maplestead
What we can’t see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. All in, the survey typically takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere like Great Maplestead needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from ground level, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there’s safe access.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
Great Maplestead questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Maplestead?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Great Maplestead in the area you cover?
Yes, Great Maplestead is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
Not as an exact number, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.
How long does the visit take?
The visit usually takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. If we see signs that need an engineer, such as serious sagging, we will say so. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Useful tips for Great Maplestead property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Hold on to the report for future surveys
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
- Stay off ladders and the roof
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. The photos show what we found and where, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear of leaves and moss, particularly after autumn. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Most overflow damage starts with a blocked gutter.