Essex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Wicken Bonhunt, Essex
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Wicken Bonhunt, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Loose chimney pots
Roof survey in Wicken Bonhunt: what you get
Across London and the South East, roofs differ widely. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, while many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles. We adapt the survey to the roof in front of us. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Each part is checked in the way that suits it. Typical surveys look at loose chimney pots and lifted, split or missing lead flashings, across clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and flat roofs.
In a village or hamlet like Wicken Bonhunt, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently 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 frequently need the most attention.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Wicken Bonhunt (CB11)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Somewhere like Wicken Bonhunt needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Nearby places to Wicken Bonhunt
Other services in Wicken Bonhunt
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Keep the report with your property records
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Tell us about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
File the report with your other home documents. It is a useful baseline for future surveys, and buyers may ask about the roof when you sell.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and daylight through the roof. Photograph anything new.
Common questions in Wicken Bonhunt
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Wicken Bonhunt?
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 cover smaller places like Wicken Bonhunt?
Yes, Wicken Bonhunt is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
Not as a figure. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
Can you look at a roof that’s joined to next door?
Yes, we can. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where the property is, with the postcode
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. We’ll tell you if the flue needs a specialist.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Interlocking tiles on shallow roofs depend on their laps and fixings. Lifted or cracked tiles are noted.
When to book a survey in Wicken Bonhunt
Every roof takes years of rain, wind, sun and frost. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and rain finds any gap it can. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Torn or sagging underlay
Anyone responsible for a site like Joyce Frankland Academy will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their insurance cover
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Wicken Bonhunt
Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Landlords with a home close to Newport (Essex) station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Audley End House, about 3.7 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Wicken Bonhunt. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is.
Wicken Bonhunt is about 4 miles south-west of Saffron Walden, in Essex. Surveys in Wicken Bonhunt work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our Essex coverage includes Wicken Bonhunt. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Every address in CB11 is within our area for roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Hill Green (1 mile west), Arkesden (1 mile north-west), Clavering (2 miles south-west), Rickling Green (2 miles south-east) and Starling's Green (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Harlow (14 miles south), Saffron Walden (4 miles north-east), Great Dunmow (11 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (5 miles south), Newhall (14 miles south) and Elsenham (5 miles south-east).
What’s near Wicken Bonhunt
Typical jobs here are in homes near Coach And Horses Inn and the streets around them. Wicken Bonhunt’s nearest station is Newport (Essex) station, about 1.8 miles east. Nearby you will also find Brent Pelham (4.3 miles west) and Saffron Walden Community Hospital (4.9 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.