Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Thornwood Common, Essex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out roof surveys in Thornwood Common.
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
How a roof survey works in Thornwood Common
Our report is written in plain English, not jargon. Each defect is described with photographs and a recommendation, and we rank them by urgency where that helps. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Reports are sent by email. Typical surveys look at slates or tiles that have slipped or broken and standing water on a flat roof, on the roof space, lead flashings and clay and concrete tiles.
Somewhere as small as Thornwood Common, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Thornwood Common (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for roof surveys in Thornwood Common
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Common roof problems in Thornwood Common
Flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Over time lead flashings split, lift or work loose, and mortar fillets crack away from the wall. Lead is also a target for theft.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Loose chimney pots
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
For landlords with property near Harlow Town station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before you book anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What exactly goes into their report
- What experience they bring
Surveys for landlords and agents in Thornwood Common
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Honest limits
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Thornwood Common
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Older roofs in small places like Thornwood Common can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- We look at the roof from each safe vantage point outside.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
How to book
To get a price for roof surveys in Thornwood Common, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
What a roof survey looks like in Thornwood Common
The wider area around Thornwood Common has a long history of building, with Hill Hall about 3.3 miles south. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Thornwood Common is about 1 mile from North Weald Airfield. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Take a building like St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you live near a park like Thornwood Common Flood Meadow, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Thornwood Common is about 3 miles south of Harlow, in Essex. In Thornwood Common, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Essex. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Every address in CM16 is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a roof survey at a property on Rowley Mead, Duck Lane and Weald Hall Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Coopersale (1 mile south), North Weald Bassett (2 miles east), Hastingwood (2 miles north-east), Bush Fair (3 miles north) and Foster Street (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (15 miles east), Harlow (3 miles north), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles south-east), Loughton (6 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Thornwood Common
We work in homes and buildings around Thornwood Common Flood Meadow. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Town station, about 4.5 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Epping Signalling Museum (2 miles south) and St. Margaret's Hospital (1.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Gernon Bushes.
FAQs for Thornwood Common
I let a flat near Harlow Town station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is Thornwood Common within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Can you survey in bad weather?
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’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Nearby places to Thornwood Common
What else we do in Thornwood Common
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roof coverings
A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber often lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30. We look at how the covering is wearing.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Older homes in the Weald and across the South East often have clay plain tiles. When pegs or battens rot, tiles slip.