Essex · London and the South East
Magdalen Laver Roof Survey
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings across Magdalen Laver, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
Roof survey in Magdalen Laver: what you get
We survey roofs in Magdalen Laver and across London and South East England. We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability. You get a written report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. Houses, flats and commercial buildings all follow the same careful process. When you’re ready to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us. If you’ve noticed lifted, split or missing lead flashings and valley linings that have cracked or split, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Magdalen Laver, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Magdalen Laver (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Places near Magdalen Laver
Also in Magdalen Laver
Roof by roof
Flat roof coverings
Repeated coatings can hide what’s underneath. We say what we can see and when a closer look would need opening up.
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.
FAQs for Magdalen Laver
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Harlow Mill station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Magdalen Laver?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing isn’t part of our service. Where materials might contain it, we say so in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Magdalen Laver often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
To get a price for roof surveys in Magdalen Laver, phone 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Ridges, hips and valleys
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Local roofs in Magdalen Laver
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with 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. North Weald Airfield is about 3 miles from Magdalen Laver. If the drone is used for your survey, the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions first.
If you let a flat or house near Harlow Mill station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Mary Magdalen: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Magdalen Laver is about 3 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. Wherever you are in Magdalen Laver, we can come and survey your property. Across Essex, we cover Magdalen Laver. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof surveys: CM5. We also cover Loyter's Green (1 mile north), Foster Street (1 mile west), Hastingwood (1 mile west), Housham Tye (2 miles north) and Matching Tye (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (13 miles east), Harlow (3 miles west), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (9 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Magdalen Laver
We work in homes and buildings around The Green Man Public House. The nearest railway station is Harlow Mill station, about 3.4 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Harlow Mill (3.6 miles north-west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (3.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Magdalen Laver includes Gernon Bushes.