Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Great Waltham, Essex
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings for Great Waltham and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
Roof survey in Great Waltham: what you get
Three packages cover most roofs: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Basic is a visual inspection with photos 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. If you’re worried about flashings that have come away from the wall and gutters that overflow in heavy rain, we can find out what’s behind it, on natural slate, the roof space and flat roofs alike.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Great Waltham (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Great Waltham homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list.
Take an older house close to Church of SS Mary and Laurence: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Take a building like Chelmer Valley High School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Great Waltham is about 4 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. We visit Great Waltham as part of our work across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small.
We cover every part of CM3 for roof surveys. If you need a roof survey at a property on Brook Mead, Cherry Garden Road and Chelmsford Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Great Waltham include Breeds (1 mile south-west), Minnow End (1 mile south-east), Little Waltham (1 mile south-east), Broomfield (2 miles south-east) and Chignall Smealy (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (4 miles south), Basildon (15 miles south), Braintree (8 miles north-east), Harlow (15 miles west), Brentwood (13 miles south-west) and Maldon (11 miles south-east).
What’s near Great Waltham
Around Great Waltham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Beehive pub, among other places. The closest station to Great Waltham is Beaulieu Park station, about 3.7 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Broomfield Hospital (1.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Little Waltham Meadows.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Waltham
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Places near Great Waltham
What else we do in Great Waltham
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
When to book a survey in Great Waltham
Flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Lead can crack, lift or slip with age, and mortar fillets crack. Lead is also a target for theft.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
If you own a rental within reach of Beaulieu Park station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Let us know about past leaks
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
The recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant. Some things need prompt attention, others can be planned for. That helps you decide what to do first.
Have gutters and valleys cleared regularly, ideally after the leaves have fallen. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Clear gutters prevent a lot of damp.
Great Waltham questions
Is my home in Great Waltham listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can a landlord with a rental near Beaulieu Park station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It isn’t a structural engineer’s report and doesn’t include calculations.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
We don’t put a figure on it, since the fixings, underlay and maintenance all play a part. What we do is explain the roof’s condition and what to deal with first.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
Is this a RICS 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 will need a RICS survey as well.
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere like Great Waltham needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay plain and peg tiles
Handmade and machine-made clay tiles are long-lasting. Slipped, cracked and missing tiles are recorded.
Flat roof coverings
Ponding, blistering, splits and cracked surfaces are the common warning signs. Upstands and outlets are checked too, since leaks frequently start there.