Essex · London and the South East
Storm Damage Roof Report in Great Horkesley
An independent record of roof damage after a storm in Great Horkesley, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Damaged ridges and hips
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Damaged flat roof membrane
Landlords, agents and block managers in Great Horkesley
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
How a storm damage roof report works in Great Horkesley
Most policies don’t cover wear and tear. So it matters whether the damage came from the storm or from a roof that was already worn. We note signs of each: recent damage alongside any older defects, like nail fatigue on slates or eroded pointing. We describe what we see, whichever way it points. Your insurer then decides how its policy applies. Common reasons to book are broken or displaced guttering and cowls or aerials dislodged in the wind, across gutters and fascias, ridges and hips and flat roofs.
Around Great Horkesley, chimneys on older homes are a common source of leaks, through worn flaunching, failed pointing or lifted flashings. Damp on a chimney breast is not always rain from above, which is why it’s worth tracing properly. The stack, its flashings and the loft space beside it are all worth checking.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- Great Horkesley (CO6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Photograph damage inside the house too
- Keep fallen slates or tiles as evidence if safe
- Report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can
- Read your policy wording on storm damage
Your insurer may send a loss adjuster to look at the damage. You will have your own independent record to refer to.
Keep the roof in good order between storms. Have loose slates, tiles and flashings seen to promptly.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. In a smaller place like Great Horkesley, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe positions.
- Each area of damage is photographed and described.
- We note the likely cause and any signs of older wear.
- We send you the report by email for your insurer.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
What affects the price in Great Horkesley
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Nearby places to Great Horkesley
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Questions from Great Horkesley
Do you cover Great Horkesley?
Yes, Great Horkesley is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the property.
Is my home in Great Horkesley listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is wear and tear covered by insurance?
Wear and tear is not normally covered. Our report gives an honest view of what’s recent damage and what’s older wear. Your insurer decides the claim.
What wind speed counts as a storm?
It depends on your policy. Many use gusts of about 55 mph, but each policy sets its own definition. Your policy document will say.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
My storm claim was turned down. What now?
Start by complaining to the insurer. If it isn’t resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help. The Ombudsman asks about storm conditions, whether the damage is consistent with a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
Should I go up on the roof to take photos?
Safely, from the ground or a window. Do not use a ladder or go onto the roof. With binoculars, you can see a lot from ground level, and we’ll record the rest.
What a storm damage roof report looks like in Great Horkesley
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
If you let a flat or house near Colchester station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. Take an older house close to Church of St John: leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Great Horkesley is about 3 miles north of Colchester, in Essex. We survey roofs in Great Horkesley and the rest of Essex. Our Essex coverage includes Great Horkesley. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Storm damage roof reports in CO6 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include Exeter Close, Malvern Way and Keelers Way. We also cover the places around Great Horkesley: Mile End (1 mile south-east), West Bergholt (1 mile south-west), Little Horkesley (2 miles north-west), Wissington (3 miles north-west) and Fordham Heath (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (3 miles south), Braintree (14 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Witham (13 miles south-west), Camulodunum (3 miles south) and Halstead (10 miles west).
Near you in Great Horkesley
Around Great Horkesley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Half Butt Inn and Gilberd School and the streets around them. The closest station to Great Horkesley is Colchester station, about 1.9 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Lion Walk (2.8 miles south) and Colchester Castle (2.8 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Westhouse Wood.
Why act early in Great Horkesley
Before temporary repairs, photograph the damage from the ground if it’s safe. That keeps a record of how it looked. Arranging work in a smaller place like Great Horkesley is easier with notice than in an emergency. A survey gives you that notice.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book us in Great Horkesley
- Over 20 years’ experience
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.