Essex · London and the South East
Little Laver Storm Damage Roof Report
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out storm damage roof reports in Little Laver, with photos and a clear written report.
- Broken or displaced guttering
- Water coming in after the storm
- Flashings pulled away from walls or stacks
Storm damage roof report in Little Laver
The Financial Ombudsman looks at three things when it considers a storm damage complaint: whether there were storm conditions around the date, whether the damage fits a storm, and whether the storm was the main cause. Our report focuses on the second and third points. You or your insurer can check the weather for the date. Typical surveys look at loose or broken chimney pots and cowls and new damp or leaks inside, on chimney stacks, gutters and fascias and flashings.
Roofs in small places like Little Laver 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, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Little Laver (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Common questions in Little Laver
Will you come out to Little Laver?
Yes, Little Laver is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you cover Little Laver?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
How do I arrange a storm damage roof report in Little Laver?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll suggest the right survey. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect what can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
How strong does the wind have to be for a storm claim?
There is no single figure. Many use gusts of about 55 mph, but each policy sets its own definition. Check your policy wording.
What we cannot see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- What’s beneath slates, tiles or membranes
- Estimates of repair costs
- The outcome of a claim
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Ridges and hips
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Gutters and fascias
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Keep any slates, tiles or debris that fall, if it is safe to do so
- Report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can
- Take photos from the ground or a window, never by climbing
- Get a roofer to make the roof safe if needed
You’ll need a roofer’s quote for the repairs. They can use our report to see what needs doing.
Keep gutters and outlets clear so heavy rain can drain away. Blocked drainage can add water damage to wind damage.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take between one and two hours for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. Older rural homes like those around Little Laver can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You tell us what happened and whether a roofer has made the roof safe.
- We check inside, including the loft where there is access, for water damage.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We record fresh damage and older defects.
- The report, with photos, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Booking a survey
For a price for storm damage roof reports in Little Laver, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
With an independent report, you have something specific to show your insurer. It records the damage and what seems to have caused it, so you are not relying only on your own photos. Outbuildings and barns around Little Laver are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Little Laver
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Every finding written up with photos
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Little Laver
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Leaks and storm damage in Little Laver
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so check with the council.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. In and around Little Laver, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Little Laver is about 5 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. We survey roofs in Little Laver and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
We work across the CM5 postcode area for storm damage roof reports. Neighbouring places we cover for storm damage roof reports include Matching Green (1 mile north-west), Norwood End (1 mile south-east), Moreton (2 miles south-west), Pedlars End (2 miles south-west) and Clatterford End (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (11 miles east), Harlow (5 miles west), Brentwood (10 miles south), Billericay (12 miles south-east), Loughton (11 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (11 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Little Laver
A little further out are Willingale Doe (3.4 miles east).