Surrey · London and the South East
Merle Common Gutter Survey
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes for Merle Common and the rest of Surrey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Valley or box gutters that overflow inside
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Merle Common
This survey covers rainwater above ground, from the gutters down to where the downpipes meet the ground. It isn’t a CCTV drain survey, so we can’t see inside underground pipes. If the problem looks like a blocked or broken drain below ground, the report will say so, so you can get the drains checked separately. Problems above ground, from split hoppers to leaking downpipes, are photographed and noted. We survey downpipes, fascias and soffits and parapet and box gutters, and common reasons people get in touch are gutters full of debris and silt and brackets that have dropped or snapped.
In a small place like Merle Common, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
What you get is a clear record of the gutter on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Merle Common (RH8)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Merle Common homes and their roofs
With Chartwell about 3.3 miles north-east, Merle Common sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls are typical of Surrey’s older houses. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you let a flat or house near Hurst Green station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. Wherever you are in Merle Common, we can carry out gutter surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Merle Common is one of the towns and villages in Surrey we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Gutter surveys in RH8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Around Merle Common
We work in homes and buildings around Oxted School. The nearest railway station is Hurst Green station, roughly 1.4 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). For a walk, there is Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
Common roof problems in Merle Common
Falling leaves are the most common cause of blocked gutters. Every autumn, trees fill gutters with leaves, twigs and seeds, and they collect at the outlets. A choked outlet soon means a full, overflowing gutter.
We are often asked to look at:
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Holland Junior School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What they won’t be able to tell you
What we do, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Merle Common frequently 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.
- First, you tell us what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe vantage points.
- Any valley, parapet or box gutters are looked at as far as safe access allows.
- The loft space is checked for water marks if it is safe to get into.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Also near Merle Common
What else we do in Merle Common
Why get it checked now?
Going up a ladder to check your own gutters carries real risk. From ground level you can spot drips and overflows, but valleys, parapets and box gutters are hard to see. Our survey covers everything that’s safely in view and records it with photos. For older village homes like those around Merle Common, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Visits on any day of the week
- Prices that include VAT
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
- Note any damp stains below the gutters
Report times depend on the package you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. We email it to you as soon as it is ready.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. They tend to get worse, and the water they spill can damage walls and timber.
How the survey changes by roof type
Box and secret gutters
Box gutters sit within the roof or behind a wall, so overflows can end up inside. We inspect them as far as it’s safe to see them.
Fascias and soffits
Fascias carry the gutters, so rot in the boards can loosen the whole run. Damaged or stained boards are recorded.
Merle Common questions
I let a flat near Hurst Green station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Will you come out to Merle Common?
Yes, Merle Common is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
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; we will agree the details when you book.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Is there a good time of year to book a gutter survey?
Whenever suits you. If you’ve already seen a gutter overflowing, it’s best not to wait, because the walls take the water.
Checking the roof from the ground
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.