Thurrock · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Horndon on the Hill
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Horndon on the Hill, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Loose chimney pots
Roof survey in Horndon on the Hill: what you get
Our roof survey gives you a clear picture of your roof’s condition. We check the coverings, the ridges and hips, the valleys and flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where there is safe access. The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations. Where it is relevant, the recommendations are prioritised by urgency. If you’ve noticed gaps in the roof where coverings have gone and leaning or weathered chimney stacks, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Horndon on the Hill, homes are frequently 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’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Horndon on the Hill (SS17)
- Region
- Thurrock
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Older roofs in small places like Horndon on the Hill can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday or a weekend.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
- The shape of the roof and its details
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you contact us
These details help when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Checking the roof from the ground
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Horndon on the Hill
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Chimney stacks
Roof surveys in Horndon on the Hill: local notes
Horndon on the Hill lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Horndon-On-the-Hill CofE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Living close to Grove House Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Horndon on the Hill is about 1 mile west of Stanford-le-Hope, in Thurrock. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Horndon on the Hill can all book roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Thurrock. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in SS17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a roof survey at a property on Mill Lane, Francis Close and Stephens Crescent or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Balstonia (1 mile east), Stanford-le-Hope (1 mile east), Corringham (3 miles east), Langdon Hills (3 miles north) and Great Berry (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Grays (4 miles south-west), South Ockendon (5 miles west), Chadwell St Mary (3 miles south-west), Aveley (7 miles west), Tilbury (5 miles south) and South Stifford (5 miles south-west).
What’s near Horndon on the Hill
Typical jobs here are in homes near Grove House Wood, St Clere's School and Swan Inn. Horndon on the Hill’s nearest station is Stanford-Le-Hope station, about 1.1 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Orsett Hospital (1.9 miles south-west) and Eastgate Shopping Centre (3.9 miles north-east). Open spaces near Horndon on the Hill include Horndon Meadow.
Horndon on the Hill: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Horndon on the Hill?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Can a landlord with a rental near Stanford-Le-Hope station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
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.
Do you go up on the roof?
When the roof and the conditions make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and Premium includes a drone where applicable.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Report times depend on the package.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof coverings
Ponding, blistering, splits and cracked surfaces are the common warning signs. Upstands and outlets are checked too, since leaks often start there.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes. Worn or split lead lets water straight in, and lead is a target for theft.