Essex · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Ivy Chimneys
Wondering about the roof at a property in Ivy Chimneys? We carry out roof surveys in Ivy Chimneys and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
How a roof survey works in Ivy Chimneys
People book a roof survey for all sorts of reasons. Some have seen a mark on a ceiling or bits of tile in the garden, while others just want to know where they stand. The approach is the same in each case: a careful look, then a clear written report. Visits run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, so it’s easy to find a day that suits. We survey lead flashings, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles, and people most frequently book us about torn or sagging underlay and ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs.
Older buildings in small places like Ivy Chimneys may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The written findings come 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.
- Location
- Ivy Chimneys (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a roof survey in Ivy Chimneys
Blocked gutters cause a surprising amount of damage. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the building.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
The streets around a church like Church of St John the Baptist are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before booking anyone
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their report turnaround times
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
Checking the roof from ground level
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
How the survey changes by roof type
Concrete interlocking tiles
Mortar at ridges and verges often cracks on tiled roofs. Loose ridges and gaps in the mortar are recorded.
Flat roof coverings
A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber around 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check its condition and the signs of age.
Ivy Chimneys: your questions answered
Will you come out to Ivy Chimneys?
Yes, Ivy Chimneys is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ivy Chimneys?
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 a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
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.
How do I book a survey in Ivy Chimneys?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Planned work is less stressful than an emergency. A survey lets you deal with things in order of urgency, rather than waiting for something to fail. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
All our prices include VAT. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- PI and public liability insurance
- Photos and a written report every time
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Include dormers, porches and garages when booking
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see whether anything has changed, and whether work has done its job.
Every so often, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
Towns and villages near Ivy Chimneys
What else we do in Ivy Chimneys
Local roofs in Ivy Chimneys
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Hill Hall, about 2.4 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ivy Chimneys. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you look after a building such as Ivy Chimneys Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Ivy Chimneys is about 1 mile south-west of Epping, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Ivy Chimneys can all book roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across Essex. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We survey roofs across CM16 for roof surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include High Road, Theydon Road and Centre Avenue. If you are just outside Ivy Chimneys, we cover Epping (1 mile north-east), Steward's Green (1 mile east), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile east), Theydon Garnon (2 miles south-east) and Hobbs Cross (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Harlow (6 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (4 miles west) and Stansted Mountfitchet (15 miles north).
Near you in Ivy Chimneys
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Black Lion pub and St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, among other places. A little further out are Epping Signalling Museum (0.6 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (1.4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Ivy Chimneys include Lippitts Hill and Gernon Bushes.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Ivy Chimneys can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- Coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.