Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Charlton-on-Otmoor Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings around Charlton-on-Otmoor, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Raised blisters across the surface
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Every flat roof covering tends to fail in its own way. Built-up felt tends to blister and crack, asphalt crazes and splits, EPDM can lift at its laps, and GRP can crack at board joints and edge trims. On PVC and TPO single-ply roofs, we look closely at the welded laps, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it is doing helps you plan what comes next. If you are worried about signs of deflection in the roof deck and water getting in at rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Somewhere as small as Charlton-on-Otmoor, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access in advance. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them as you book.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Charlton-on-Otmoor (OX5)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Charlton-on-Otmoor: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Charlton-on-Otmoor?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Charlton-on-Otmoor listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we will talk to you about another date.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
After heavy rain, look at the roof from an upstairs window if you can. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Roof by roof
Rooflights and upstands
Upstands at walls and parapets need to stay watertight as the building moves. We look for splits, gaps and failed flashings over the top.
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt has no laps, so its weak points are cracks and the skirtings at walls and upstands. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
Common roof problems in Charlton-on-Otmoor
The details are often where a flat roof lets go first. Upstands, trims, outlets and rooflight kerbs each move and weather in their own way. If they were rushed when the roof was laid, they’re often the first things to fail.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Standing water left after rain
For businesses in and around places such as Bicester Avenue, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What they will not be able to tell you
Local flat roofs in Charlton-on-Otmoor
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. Historic houses such as Boarstall Tower, about 4 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Charlton-on-Otmoor goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. If you own a rental within reach of Islip station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Charlton-on-Otmoor is about 5 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Charlton-on-Otmoor is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Charlton-on-Otmoor is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the OX5 postcode area for flat roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Blacksmiths Lane and Church Lane. We also cover Fencott (1 mile east), Murcott (1 mile east), Merton (1 mile north-east), Wendlebury (2 miles north) and Horton-cum-Studley (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (6 miles south), Bicester (5 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (4 miles west).
Around Charlton-on-Otmoor
Around Charlton-on-Otmoor, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Crown pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Islip station, roughly 2.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (4.2 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (3.6 miles north). The countryside around Charlton-on-Otmoor includes Graven Hill and Otmoor RSPB reserve.
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Charlton-on-Otmoor often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The roof’s overall size
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before booking.