Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Rickling Green, Essex
Roof surveys in Rickling Green and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How a roof survey works in Rickling Green
Roof coverings last a long time, but not for ever. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, and clay and concrete tiles commonly 50 years or more, yet nails, battens and underlay frequently fail first. A survey shows which parts of your roof are wearing. That lets you plan work in good time rather than after a leak. We survey the roof space, chimney stacks and natural slate, and people most often book us about cracked mortar along the ridge and lifted, split or missing lead flashings.
In a small place like Rickling Green, 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.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Rickling Green (CB11)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Rickling Green, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful 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 tell us 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.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there’s safe access.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
How to book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
Also near Rickling Green
Other services in Rickling Green
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- When you need the report by
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Rickling Green
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Useful tips for Rickling Green property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Include dormers, porches and garages as you book
- File the report with your home documents
- Don’t climb onto the roof yourself
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft space ventilated. A stuffy loft collects condensation, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Check insulation doesn’t block the airflow at the eaves.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rickling Green
Historic houses such as Horham Hall, about 4.8 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Rickling Green goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Rickling Green is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Stansted Airport. If your survey includes the drone, we check the exact boundary for the address before flying.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of Quendon, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For landlords with property near Newport (Essex) station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Rickling Green is about 5 miles south of Saffron Walden, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Rickling Green, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Rickling Green is one of the places in Essex we cover for roof surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CB11 is within our area for roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Rickling Green Road, Hallfield and Brick Kiln Lane. Other places close to Rickling Green include Wicken Bonhunt (2 miles north-west), Manuden (2 miles south-west), Hill Green (2 miles north-west), Clavering (3 miles north-west) and Berden (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Harlow (13 miles south), Saffron Walden (5 miles north), Great Dunmow (9 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (3 miles south), Great Notley (15 miles south-east) and Newhall (12 miles south).
What’s near Rickling Green
We work in homes and buildings around Cricketers Public House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Newport (Essex) station, about 2.3 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Herts and Essex Hospital (5.8 miles south) and House On The Hill Toy Museum (3.1 miles south). Open spaces near Rickling Green include Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles are common on older South East homes. Rotten pegs and battens let tiles move, leaving gaps along the courses.
Lead flashings and valleys
Most leaks begin at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. They get particular attention in every survey.
Common questions in Rickling Green
Is drone flying allowed in Rickling Green?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Rickling Green is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Stansted Airport. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in Rickling Green 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.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book. For a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the survey is done from ground level, upper windows and the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
Not as a figure. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it’s wearing, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.