Essex · London and the South East
Rowhedge Roof Survey
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Rowhedge. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
What happens if roof problems are left?
Many roofs go years without anyone looking at them closely. A survey sets a baseline, so you can compare it next time. Around Rowhedge, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that’s a much bigger job than the original defect.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Rowhedge
We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where conditions allow. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, for roofs that are hard to see well. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. We are often asked to look into leaking gutter joints and downpipes and valley linings that have cracked or split, on natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings.
In a smaller place like Rowhedge, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- Rowhedge (CO5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Homes around Rowhedge often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from ground level, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there is safe access.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know the cost up front. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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What we’re asked to look at in Rowhedge
Slates and tiles frequently outlast the fixings that hold them. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, the battens or pegs may be what’s gone, letting tiles move.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Loose chimney pots
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Torn or sagging underlay
If you run a business near Lion Walk, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Are they insured for the work?
Rowhedge homes and their roofs
Rowhedge lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Landlords with a home close to Wivenhoe station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you live near a park such as Colne Local Nature Reserve, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Rowhedge is about 3 miles south-east of Colchester, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Rowhedge, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Rowhedge is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Every address in CO5 is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as High Street, Church Street and Regent Street, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Rowhedge: East Donyland (1 mile south), Wivenhoe Quay (1 mile east), Wivenhoe (1 mile north-east), High Park Corner (1 mile south-east) and Wivenhoe Cross (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (3 miles north-west), Clacton-on-Sea (9 miles south-east), Maldon (14 miles south-west), Witham (14 miles west), Harwich (14 miles east) and Camulodunum (4 miles north-west).
Around Rowhedge
In Rowhedge, that means homes and buildings near Colne Local Nature Reserve, Donyland Lodge and Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College, among other places. There is a railway station in Rowhedge itself: Wivenhoe station. Nearby you’ll also find Colchester Castle (3 miles north-west) and Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (0.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Cockaynes Wood.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Most leaks begin at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. They get particular attention in every survey.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles are common on older South East homes. When pegs or battens rot, tiles slip, leaving gaps along the courses.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Leave roof access to professionals
- File the report with your home documents
- Photograph stains when they appear
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. You can ask us about anything that is not clear.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Look for water marks, damp wood and chinks of light. Take photos of anything that changes.
Also near Rowhedge
More services for Rowhedge
What a roof survey does not cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
Common questions in Rowhedge
Is my home in Rowhedge listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Will you come out to Rowhedge?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
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 stacks and upstands are looked at from your property.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. Where materials might contain it, we say so in the report so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.