Essex · London and the South East
Gilston Storm Damage Roof Report
An independent record of roof damage after a storm for Gilston and the rest of Essex. We survey on any day of the week.
- Damaged gutters and fascias
- Stains appearing after strong winds
- Roofs hit by falling trees
Storm damage roof report in Gilston
After a storm, safety comes first. Take photos from the ground or from windows, and do not climb onto the roof. If water is coming in, a roofer can put temporary protection in place. Our report records the damage so you have an independent record to give your insurer. Hold on to receipts for anything you pay for. We’re often asked to look into damaged pots on the stack and torn or lifted flat roof coverings, across flat roofs, ridges and hips and flashings.
Roofs in small places like Gilston 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.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Gilston (CM20)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it is worth a survey now in Gilston
Leaving storm damage can let water into the loft space and rooms below. That can add to the damage and make it harder to separate from the storm. A roofer should deal with emergency protection quickly. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Gilston, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Gilston
- Package prices that include VAT
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read our cost guide or our case studies.
Nearby places to Gilston
Other services in Gilston
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Take photos from the ground or a window, never by climbing
- Check your policy for how to report damage
- Keep fallen slates or tiles as evidence if safe
- Arrange temporary cover with a roofer if rain is getting in
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep records of roof work and surveys. They help show the roof was in good order before a storm.
Leaks and storm damage in Gilston
About 4.8 miles north lies Much Hadham Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Gilston has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Harlow, which Gilston is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Low pitches let wind-driven rain reach further under the tiles, and flat-roofed garages and porches are common leak points.
For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Mary, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. If you live near a park such as Harlow Marsh, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Gilston is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. We provide storm damage roof reports for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Gilston and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across CM20 for storm damage roof reports. Streets in the area include Pye Corner and Eastwick Road, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Eastwick (1 mile south-west), Little Parndon (1 mile south-west), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Staple Tye (3 miles south) and Roydon (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (10 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
Near you in Gilston
Around Gilston, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plume Of Feathers pub, Burnt Mill Academy and Harlow Marsh. The closest station to Gilston is Harlow Town station, roughly 0.6 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Harlow Mill (1.2 miles east). Not far away are Hunsdon Mead.
Gilston questions
How do I find out if my home in Gilston is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Should a flat-roofed garage or porch in Gilston be checked too?
Yes, if you’d like it included, mention it when you book. On buildings from before 2000, cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos and should be checked by a specialist asbestos surveyor before anyone disturbs them.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Do you look in the roof space?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
How do I arrange a storm damage roof report in Gilston?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Signs you need a storm damage roof report in Gilston
Flat roofs can be damaged too. Wind can lift edges and tear coverings, and blocked outlets can leave water ponding after heavy rain. Our report covers flat and pitched roofs.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Gutters pulled loose in the wind
- Lifted or missing ridge and hip tiles
- Slates and tiles blown off the roof
- Damage from fallen branches or debris
Landlords with a home close to Harlow Town station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their track record with similar roofs
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Gilston
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at a house, and longer if the damage is spread across a large roof. In a small place like Gilston, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start with what you’ve seen and any temporary repairs.
- We check inside, including the loft where there is access, for water damage.
- The roof is inspected from ground level, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- Storm damage and older wear are recorded separately where we can.
- You receive the written report with photos.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.