Essex · London and the South East
Crays Hill Storm Damage Roof Report
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Storm damage roof reports in Crays Hill.
- Ridge tiles that have come loose
- Water coming in after the storm
- Lead lifted at abutments
Useful tips for Crays Hill property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- File receipts for anything you pay for
- Read your policy wording on storm damage
- Take photos from the ground or a window, never by climbing
- Keep a note of the date of the storm
If you are unhappy with how your insurer handles the claim, you can complain to them first. After that, you may be able to take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Keep the roof in good order between storms. Have loose slates, tiles and flashings seen to promptly.
Storm damage roof reports for homes and businesses in Crays Hill
Storms tend to find the weak points on a roof. Slates and tiles slip or blow off, ridge and hip tiles lift, flashings pull away and flat roof coverings can tear. Trees and branches can also hit roofs in a storm. We record the damage on your roof and photograph each part. Any older wear we can see is recorded as well. Typical surveys look at holes or cracks caused by debris and damaged pots on the stack, on gutters and fascias, chimney stacks and flashings.
Roofs in small places like Crays Hill often stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Crays Hill (CM11)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Crays Hill
Also in Crays Hill
Your questions about storm damage roof reports in Crays Hill
Do you carry out roof surveys in Crays Hill?
Yes, Crays Hill is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Will you come out to Crays Hill?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
How should I record storm damage myself?
Please don’t climb onto the roof. Photograph the damage from below or from a window. Note the date and time, and photograph any damage inside.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take an hour or two at a house, and longer if the damage is spread across a large roof. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
What wind speed counts as a storm?
It varies by policy. About 55 mph is a common figure in many policies, but your policy sets the actual test.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Crays Hill
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes about one to two hours at a house, and longer if the damage is spread across a large roof. Rural addresses near Crays Hill can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- We look at the roof from wherever it’s safe.
- We record and photograph the damage.
- We note the likely cause and any signs of older wear.
- You get a written report to pass to your insurer.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
Wind, rain and roofs in Crays Hill
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in. Anyone responsible for a site like Crays Hill Primary School will know that tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back. If you own a rental within reach of Wickford station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Crays Hill is about 2 miles north of Basildon, in Essex. We survey roofs in Crays Hill and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CM11 is covered for storm damage roof reports, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets like London Road, Hope Road and Crays Hill, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out storm damage roof reports in Great Burstead (1 mile west), Ramsden Bellhouse (1 mile north), Ramsden Heath (2 miles north), Downham (3 miles north) and Little Burstead (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles north), Brentwood (7 miles west), Maldon (13 miles north-east), Canvey Island (7 miles south-east), Rayleigh (6 miles east) and Witham (15 miles north-east).
Near you in Crays Hill
In Crays Hill, that means homes and buildings near The Bromfords School and Sixth Form College and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Wickford station, roughly 2.2 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Barleylands Farm Museum (1.1 miles west) and Basildon University Hospital (3.1 miles south). The countryside around Crays Hill includes Norsey Wood.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Older tiles held only by nibs, without nails or clips, can lift more easily. We note what we can see of how tiles are fixed.
Flat roof coverings
On flat roofs, storms can lift edges and tear membranes. We record any damage and where it is.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Crays Hill
The sooner the damage is recorded, the clearer the evidence. Further storms and quick fixes can make the picture less clear. For an older or listed building in a place like Crays Hill, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Why us?
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
When you need someone else
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Estimates of repair costs
- How your policy defines a storm
- Whether your insurer will pay the claim
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges and hips
- Flashings
- Gutters and fascias