Essex · London and the South East
Storm Damage Roof Report in Lawford
Wondering about the roof at a property in Lawford? You can book a storm damage roof report in Lawford and across Essex.
- Damaged flat roof membrane
- Damaged pots on the stack
- Damage from fallen branches or debris
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Lawford, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe positions.
- We record and photograph the damage.
- The report notes whether the damage fits a storm, older wear or both.
- You get a written report to pass to your insurer.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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How a storm damage roof report works in Lawford
Storms tend to find the weak points on a roof. Typical damage includes lost slates and tiles, lifted ridges, loose flashings and torn flat roof coverings. Falling branches can cause damage too. We record the damage on your roof and photograph each part. Where we also see signs of older wear, the report records that too. We’re often asked to look into flat roof edges peeled back and ridge tiles that have come loose, on gutters and fascias, flat roofs and slate and tile slopes.
Around Lawford, 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.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Lawford (CO11)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What affects the cost of storm damage roof reports
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Height and safe access
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The property’s address and postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- File receipts for anything you pay for
- Note the date and time you first saw the damage
- Record any water damage in rooms and the loft
- Keep fallen slates or tiles as evidence if safe
You will need a roofer’s quote for the repairs. They can use our report to see what needs doing.
Check the roof from ground level after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or lifted ridges. Don’t go up a ladder to look.
Storm damage roof reports in Lawford: local notes
Lawford lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where storms can bring strong gusts off the sea. What counts as a storm is set by each policy, frequently gusts of around 55 mph, and the insurer makes the decision. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed.
Historic houses like Castle House, about 2.4 miles west, show how far back building around Lawford goes. On older roofs nearby, leaks frequently trace back to lead flashings, valleys and gutters. Take a building like Manningtree High School: water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Lawford is about 7 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. Lawford is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Lawford is one of the places in Essex where we work. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CO11 postcode area for storm damage roof reports. Local streets include Dorset Square, Station Road and Merivale Road, and we cover them all. Other places close to Lawford include Manningtree (1 mile east), Cattawade (1 mile north), Little Bromley (1 mile south), Mistley (2 miles east) and Brantham (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (7 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Harwich (9 miles east), Camulodunum (9 miles south-west), Greenstead (6 miles south-west) and Wivenhoe (7 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Lawford
Typical jobs here are in homes near Highfields Primary School and The Red Lion Public House. The closest station to Lawford is Manningtree station, roughly 0.7 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are The Munnings Museum (2.4 miles west) and Little Wenham Castle (5 miles north). The countryside around Lawford includes Cattawade Marshes and Alton Water.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Signs you need a storm damage roof report in Lawford
Some people book because a claim has been questioned. You get an independent record of what the roof shows. We can’t say whether the decision will change.
Problems we come across often include:
- Broken or displaced guttering
- Lead lifted at abutments
- Roofs hit by falling trees
- Stains appearing after strong winds
The streets around a church like St Mary's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Nearby places to Lawford
What else we do in Lawford
Common questions in Lawford
Will you come out to Lawford?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Lawford, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Can I challenge a declined storm claim?
Raise it with your insurer first. If it is not resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help. The Ombudsman looks at whether there were storm conditions, whether the damage fits a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
Will you deal with the insurance company for me?
No. Our report is an independent record for you to use. The insurer may send a loss adjuster of its own.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to.
What does a storm damage report cost?
A storm damage report starts from £150. Larger roofs are quoted for their size. The report doesn’t include repair costs.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access.