Essex · London and the South East
Storm damage roof report in Great Leighs, Essex
Storm damage roof reports in Great Leighs from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Roofs hit by falling trees
- Slipped or missing slates or tiles
- Damaged ridges and hips
Storm damage roof reports for homes and businesses in Great Leighs
The Financial Ombudsman asks three questions when it looks at storm complaints: were there storm conditions on or around the date, is the damage consistent with a storm, and was the storm the main cause. We record what the roof shows about the damage and its likely cause. Weather records for the date are for you or your insurer to check. We survey chimney stacks, ridges and hips and flat roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are new damp or leaks inside and loose or broken chimney pots and cowls.
Roofs in small places like Great Leighs often stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
The Standard Survey adds 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
- Great Leighs (CM3)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Ridge and hip tiles
The ridge and hips are among the most exposed parts of a roof. We record any that have lifted, cracked or come away.
Clay and concrete tiles
Broken or missing tiles leave the underlay exposed to rain. We photograph each gap.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving storm damage can let water into the roof 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. Around Great Leighs, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Great Leighs
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Photographs and a written report every time
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Great Leighs frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- We check 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
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
When you need someone else
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- A decision on your insurance claim
- What your policy covers, which depends on its wording
- The work of a loss adjuster appointed by your insurer
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and fascias
- Ridges and hips
- Flashings
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
Great Leighs questions
Is Great Leighs within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Leighs?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can I challenge a declined storm claim?
Complain to your insurer first. If you’re still unhappy, you may be able to take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Our report gives you an independent record of the roof, but we cannot say how it will turn out.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours 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.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
How much is a storm damage roof report?
Our reports start from £150. Larger roofs are quoted for their size. The report doesn’t include repair costs.
Also near Great Leighs
Also in Great Leighs
Signs you need a storm damage roof report in Great Leighs
When you claim, your insurer may ask for evidence of the damage and its cause. An independent report gives you a clear record to send. Your insurer still makes the decision.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Flat roof edges peeled back
- Damaged ridges and hips
- Loose or broken chimney pots and cowls
- Roofs hit by falling trees
If you look after a building such as Great Leighs Primary School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Before you book anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their insurance cover
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What happens after the report arrives
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Look at what your policy says about wear and tear
- Get a roofer to make the roof safe if needed
- Tell your insurer about the damage promptly
- Keep invoices for temporary repairs
Your insurer may send a loss adjuster to look at the damage. Our report gives you an independent record alongside theirs.
Store invoices and reports for any roof work. They help show the roof was in good order before a storm.
What a storm damage roof report looks like in Great Leighs
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
Landlords with a home close to Cressing station may find that a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. Take an older house close to Church of St John the Evangelist: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Great Leighs is about 4 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. Surveys in Great Leighs work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at what can safely be seen, photographs and a clear written report. Across Essex, we cover Great Leighs and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CM3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer storm damage roof reports to properties on Aragon Road, Fortune Close and Audley Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Gubbion's Green (1 mile east), Young's End (1 mile north-east), Fuller Street (1 mile south-east), Row Green (2 miles north-east) and Fairstead (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (6 miles south), Braintree (4 miles north-east), Maldon (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles south), Witham (6 miles east) and Wickford (15 miles south).
Near you in Great Leighs
In Great Leighs, that means homes and buildings near The Castle pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Cressing station, roughly 3.4 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include William Julien Courtauld Hospital (3.6 miles north-east). Not far away are Sandylay and Moat Woods.