Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Little Common, Essex
Roof surveys around Little Common, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
Roof survey in Little Common: what you get
Across London and South East England, roofs differ widely. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, while many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles. Whatever yours has, the survey is adapted to it. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Each part is checked in the way that suits it. Common reasons to book are slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles and leaning or weathered chimney stacks, on chimney stacks, ridges, hips and valleys and flat roofs.
In a small place like Little Common, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Little Common (CM77)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Little Common
Many roofs go years without anyone looking at them closely. A survey sets a baseline, so you can compare it next time. Older cottages and farmhouses around Little Common can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
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 book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Photographs and a written report every time
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Let us know about past leaks
Where it helps, we say which items are urgent. Some things need prompt attention, others can be planned for. It makes the next steps much clearer.
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.
What we’re asked to look at in Little Common
The coverings are rarely the first thing to fail. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Rayne Primary and Nursery School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Landlords, agents and block managers in Little Common
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Little Common. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Roof by roof
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Slipped, cracked and missing tiles are recorded.
Natural slate
Inside the loft space, we check what’s under the slates. Older roofs may have bitumen felt underlay, and very old roofs none, and we note its condition.
Questions from Little Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Little Common?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Braintree station?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes, the part you own or can give access to. We can only look at neighbouring roofs as far as access allows. Shared chimneys and party-wall upstands are checked from your side.
What do you check on a roof survey?
Every part of the roof we can safely see: the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and roof space. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check, and Premium adds thermal imaging and a drone where it applies.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Towns and villages near Little Common
Also in Little Common
How it works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where it applies. The survey normally takes an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. For a village or hamlet like Little Common, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- Outside, we inspect from the ground, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- We then look in the loft for damp, staining and the condition of the underlay.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
What a roof survey looks like in Little Common
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you let a flat or house near Braintree station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Little Common is about 3 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. We visit Little Common as part of our work across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Roof surveys in CM77 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Rayne (1 mile north-east), Great Notley (1 mile south-east), Row Green (2 miles south-east), Young's End (2 miles south-east) and Panfield (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (9 miles south), Braintree (3 miles east), Maldon (12 miles south-east), Witham (7 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (15 miles north-west) and Halstead (8 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Little Common
We work in homes and buildings around Tabor Academy, 47 The Street pub and Cuckoo Wood. The closest station to Little Common is Braintree station, roughly 2.4 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (2.7 miles north-east) and Braintree Community Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.