Essex · London and the South East
Little Waltham Roof Survey
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Little Waltham, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Little Waltham
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, including signs of standing water, splits and tired upstands. Flat roofs often need attention long before the main roof, so they deserve a close look. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber can last 30 to 50. Common reasons to book are slates or tiles that have slipped or broken and loose chimney pots, across natural slate, ridges, hips and valleys and clay and concrete tiles.
In a small place like Little Waltham, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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 often the first to give way.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Little Waltham (CM3)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take an hour or two for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Little Waltham, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
For a price for roof surveys in Little Waltham, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Roof surveys around Little Waltham
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Chelmer Valley High School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you live in an older home near Little Waltham United Reformed Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Little Waltham is about 4 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. Little Waltham is one of many places we visit across Essex. Our Essex coverage includes Little Waltham.
Every address in CM3 is covered for roof surveys. If you need a roof survey at a property on The Street, Sorrell Close and Chapel Drive or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Minnow End (1 mile west), Great Waltham (1 mile north-west), Breeds (1 mile west), Broomfield (1 mile south) and Chignall Smealy (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (4 miles south), Basildon (15 miles south), Braintree (7 miles north-east), Brentwood (13 miles south-west), Maldon (10 miles south-east) and Billericay (11 miles south).
Around Little Waltham
We work in homes and buildings around White Hart Inn. The closest station to Little Waltham is Beaulieu Park station, roughly 2.8 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Peter Edwards Museum And Library (3.9 miles south) and Broomfield Hospital (1 mile south-west). Open spaces near Little Waltham include Little Waltham Meadows.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
- Leave roof access to professionals
- File the report with your home documents
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Plan a roof survey every few years, or sooner after severe weather. Regular checks catch problems while they’re small. Each report gives a record to compare against.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal chimneys, walls and abutments. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Natural slate
Slate is common on older homes in London and South East England. Where several slates have slipped, the cause is often nail fatigue, which we describe in the report.
What we’re asked to look at in Little Waltham
The underlay under the coverings matters too. Breathable roofing membranes came into use in the UK in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt, and very old ones may have none. Felt that has torn or perished stops doing its job.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
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.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What exactly goes into their report
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
All our prices include VAT. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Anything about access we should know
- When you need the report by
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, tell us about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Little Waltham questions
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Beaulieu Park station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Is my home in Little Waltham listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
We don’t give a number of years. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it’s wearing, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.