Essex · London and the South East
Thaxted Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out roof surveys in Thaxted and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Standing water on a flat roof
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Include dormers, porches and garages when booking
- Look for debris in the garden after high winds
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. They’ll see each defect and its location, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Keep the loft space ventilated. Condensation builds up when air can’t move, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Make sure insulation doesn’t block the airflow at the eaves.
About our roof survey in Thaxted
We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows and other vantage points, from inside the loft and from the roof itself where it’s safe. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone, which helps with tall or steep roofs. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. We survey clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and the roof space, and people most frequently book us about leaking gutter joints and downpipes and condensation or damp timbers in the loft.
Around Thaxted, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Thaxted (CM6)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Thaxted
Is Thaxted within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Is my home in Thaxted listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Do you look in the roof space?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. What we do is explain the roof’s condition and what to deal with first.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes, we can. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. If a problem seems to come from next door, we will say so.
Nearby places to Thaxted
Also in Thaxted
What we do, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, it typically takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a smaller place like Thaxted, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- 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.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Roof by roof
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for cracked, slipped and missing tiles.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a specialist is needed, we’ll say so.
What a roof survey looks like in Thaxted
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Historic houses such as Horham Hall, about 1.8 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Thaxted goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St John the Baptist, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Take a building like Thaxted Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Thaxted is about 6 miles south-east of Saffron Walden, in Essex. Thaxted is one of many places we visit across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our Essex coverage includes Thaxted. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
All of CM6 is within our area for roof surveys. If you need a roof survey at a property on The Lees, Weaverhead Lane and Wedow Road or a nearby road, we can help. With the B184 and B1051 close by, Thaxted is easy for us to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Cutlers Green (1 mile west), Bardfield End Green (1 mile east), Monk Street (1 mile south), Sibley's Green (2 miles south) and Howlett End (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Braintree (10 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (6 miles north-west), Halstead (12 miles east), Great Dunmow (6 miles south), Stansted Mountfitchet (7 miles south-west) and Great Notley (10 miles south-east).
What’s near Thaxted
We work in homes and buildings around Star Inn. Nearby you will also find Little Easton Moat (4.7 miles south). The countryside around Thaxted includes West Wood.
What affects the price in Thaxted
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What to tell us when you contact us
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Anything about access we should know
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles