Essex · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Willingale
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Willingale from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
How a roof survey works in Willingale
There are three levels of survey: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. Basic is a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, such as moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable. Every package includes a written report. We survey lead flashings, natural slate and the roof space, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are torn or sagging underlay and loose ridge or hip tiles.
In a village or hamlet like Willingale, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. 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.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Willingale (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- The condition of the rest of the building (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Willingale
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it frequently fail long before the slate. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates.
Flat roof coverings
A felt roof frequently 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.
Prices for roof surveys in Willingale
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Roof faults rarely stay the same size. A single gap lets water onto the timbers underneath, and damp timber slowly weakens. Finding it early keeps the work smaller. Outbuildings and barns around Willingale are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- A written report with photographs
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Willingale
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Christopher Willingale Doe, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Whatever the street in Willingale, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
Willingale is about 7 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Roofs in Willingale get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Essex. Across Essex, we cover Willingale. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CM5 is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include The Street, Manns Yard and Fyfield Road, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Willingale: Berners Roding (1 mile north), Shellow Bowells (1 mile east), Radley Green (2 miles south-east), Norton Heath (2 miles south) and Chalk End (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (7 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Braintree (14 miles north-east), Harlow (9 miles west), Brentwood (8 miles south) and Billericay (9 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Willingale
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bell Public House and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include Willingale Doe (0.6 miles north-east).
Questions from Willingale
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Willingale?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Willingale in the area you cover?
Yes, Willingale is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Willingale as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. If we see signs that need an engineer, like serious sagging, we’ll say so. We don’t provide structural calculations.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Can you look at a roof that’s joined to next door?
Yes, the part you own or can give access to. Next door’s roof is only inspected as far as we can see it. Shared chimneys and party-wall upstands are looked at from your side.
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around Willingale can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You let us know 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 the ground, 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.