Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Ratley, Oxfordshire
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Ratley, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Common questions in Ratley
How do I find out if my home in Ratley is listed?
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.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Ratley?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Ratley is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. 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.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We’ll confirm the timing as you book.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Ratley?
Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it. Typical ranges are around 15 to 20 years for felt, 30 to 50 for EPDM and up to about 30 for GRP, but your report describes the actual condition.
Do you survey commercial flat roofs?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. We quote bigger roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the address.
How a flat roof survey works in Ratley
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey GRP fibreglass, EPDM rubber and mastic asphalt, and people most frequently book us about a sagging deck under the covering and outlets that hold water back.
Older buildings in small places like Ratley may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Ratley (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
What we are asked to look at in Ratley
Many flat roof problems start at the details rather than the main surface. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. Where they weren’t finished well, they tend to fail before anything else.
Problems we come across often include:
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Standing water left after rain
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter Ad Vincula: any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What insurance they carry
Flat roof surveys in Ratley: local notes
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. Upton House, about 1.3 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ratley. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Ratley is about 6 miles north-west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Ratley is one of many places we visit across Oxfordshire. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Ratley and the places around it. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the OX15 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Streets in the area include High Street, Townhill and Chapel Lane, all of which we cover. Other places close to Ratley include Edgehill (1 mile west), Sun Rising (2 miles south-west) and Hornton (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Banbury (6 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (13 miles south), Neithrop (6 miles south-east), Grimsbury (7 miles south-east), Ruscote (6 miles south-east) and Bloxham (8 miles south).
Landmarks near Ratley
We work in homes and buildings around The Rose And Crown Public House, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation (3.3 miles south-east) and King John's Castle (3.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Ratley include Edge Hill.
How the survey changes by roof type
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. The survey checks for crazing, cracking, blistering and splits where the asphalt turns up the walls.
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photographs.
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a small place like Ratley, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Keep pets in another room
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
To get a price for flat roof surveys in Ratley, ring 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Honest limits
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ratley
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
Towns and villages near Ratley
Also in Ratley
What happens if roof problems are left?
A survey can show whether a whole new roof is needed or whether the problems are in a few places. At times the trouble is a handful of failed details, and at times the whole covering is worn. The report sets out what we found, so you can make that decision with a roofer. For an older or listed building in a place like Ratley, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book us in Ratley
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- An independent look at the roof
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs