Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Christmas Common
Not sure what state the flat roof is in? We carry out flat roof surveys in Christmas Common and across Oxfordshire.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Common questions in Christmas Common
Do you cover Christmas Common?
Yes, Christmas Common is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Christmas Common is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It frequently means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
What’s in the survey report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Christmas Common
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: from the roof itself where that’s safe, from windows and nearby vantage points, and from inside where there’s access. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. If part of the roof can’t be seen or reached safely, the report says so, so the limits of the survey are clear. If you’ve noticed splits and cracks in the covering and a sagging deck under the covering, we can find out what’s behind it, on mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets alike.
Older buildings in small places like Christmas Common may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Christmas Common (OX49)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Flat roofs can’t usually be seen from the street, so they’re frequently overlooked. Many owners only find out a roof is worn out when water comes through. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. Outbuildings and barns around Christmas Common are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What you get with us
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- PI and public liability insurance
Nearby places to Christmas Common
Also in Christmas Common
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Christmas Common often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- You get a report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Christmas Common and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Christmas Common
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. Blocked outlets, poor falls and a sagging deck are the usual causes. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
Take a building like Icknield Community College: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- When you’ll get the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Local flat roofs in Christmas Common
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. The wider area around Christmas Common has a long history of building, with Stonor Park about 2.9 miles south-east. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as Church of the Nativity are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Christmas Common is about 8 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Christmas Common, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire. There is also a page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: OX49. We also cover the places around Christmas Common: Northend (1 mile east), Howe Hill (1 mile south-west), Shirburn (2 miles north-west), Cookley Green (2 miles south-west) and Ibstone (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (14 miles north-west), Didcot (12 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles west), Thame (8 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles south) and Benson (6 miles west).
Near you in Christmas Common
We work in homes and buildings around Fox And Hounds Inn Public House, among other places. Not far away are Bald Hill and Aston Rowant NNR.
When you need someone else
It’s a careful look at the flat roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets