Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Great Oakley, Essex
Roof surveys in Great Oakley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Standing water on a flat roof
About our roof survey in Great Oakley
There are three levels of survey: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photographs and written recommendations. The higher packages add more checks, with moisture detection and a structural check, and on Premium, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable. Each one comes with a written report. We survey the roof space, flat roofs and natural slate, and people most frequently book us about torn or sagging underlay and worn lead at chimneys and abutments.
In a small place like Great Oakley, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Great Oakley (CO12)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Great Oakley
I let a flat near Wrabness station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the building.
Do you cover smaller places like Great Oakley?
Yes, Great Oakley is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
How do I arrange a roof survey in Great Oakley?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
What do you check on a roof survey?
Every part of the roof we can safely see: coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag materials that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Roof faults rarely stay the same size. A single gap lets water onto the timbers underneath, and damp timber slowly weakens. Finding it early keeps the work smaller. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Surveys seven days a week
- Clear package prices, including VAT
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
- Let us know about past leaks
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Hold on to the report for future surveys
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are explained in plain words, with recommendations.
Keep the loft space ventilated. A stuffy loft collects condensation, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Check insulation doesn’t block the airflow at the eaves.
What we are asked to look at in Great Oakley
Some damage starts inside the loft space. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up in the loft, and the damp gets into timbers and insulation. It is often mistaken for a leak.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
If you live in an older home near Parish Church of All Saints, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around Great Oakley can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- 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.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
For a price for roof surveys in Great Oakley, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Great Oakley homes and their roofs
Great Oakley is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. Thorpe Hall, about 3.5 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Oakley. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Wrabness station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Great Oakley is about 4 miles south-west of Harwich, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Great Oakley can all book roof surveys. Across Essex, we cover Great Oakley and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
All of CO12 is within our area for roof surveys. We offer roof surveys to properties on High Street, Orchard Close and Hamford Drive. Other places close to Great Oakley include Wix Green (1 mile north-west), Wix (2 miles west), Wrabness (3 miles north), Bradfield (4 miles north-west) and Bradfield Heath (4 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (12 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (7 miles south), Harwich (4 miles north-east), Camulodunum (13 miles west), Greenstead (11 miles west) and Wivenhoe (10 miles west).
Near you in Great Oakley
In Great Oakley, that means homes and buildings near The Maybush pub. Great Oakley’s nearest station is Wrabness station, roughly 2.6 miles north. Open spaces near Great Oakley include Stour Estuary RSPB reserve.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.