Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Abinger Hammer
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Abinger Hammer, with photos and a clear written report.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Abinger Hammer
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We are often asked to look into loose pots and cracked flaunching and gutters choked with leaves and moss, across chimney stacks, the roof space and lead flashings and valleys.
Somewhere as small as Abinger Hammer, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Abinger Hammer (RH5)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It usually takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near Abinger Hammer can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Advice
Towns and villages near Abinger Hammer
What else we do in Abinger Hammer
Abinger Hammer questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Abinger Hammer?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a 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.
Is Abinger Hammer in the area you cover?
Yes, Abinger Hammer is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Abinger Hammer as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it usually takes about one to two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Checking the roof from the ground
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Common roof problems in Abinger Hammer
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Flashings that have lifted or split
If you let a flat or house near Gomshall station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Questions to ask before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What the survey will not cover
Local roofs and buyers in Abinger Hammer
Historic houses such as Hatchlands Park, about 3.3 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Abinger Hammer goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Abinger Hammer is about 5 miles west of Dorking, in Surrey. Surveys in Abinger Hammer work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Across Surrey, we cover Abinger Hammer. For surveys nearby, see our Guildford page.
Every address in RH5 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Guildford Road, Hackhurst Lane and Felday Road or a nearby road, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Gomshall (1 mile west), Hoe (1 mile south), Sutton Abinger (1 mile south), Abinger (1 mile south-east) and Shere (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (6 miles west), Woking (9 miles north-west), Camberley (15 miles north-west), Epsom (11 miles north-east), Horley (12 miles east) and Redhill (12 miles east).
Landmarks near Abinger Hammer
Typical jobs here are in homes near Abinger Arms and Colekitchen Down, among other places. Abinger Hammer’s nearest station is Gomshall station, about 0.5 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include St. Luke’s Hospital (5.7 miles west) and Shere Museum (1.3 miles west). The countryside around Abinger Hammer includes Leith Hill and Combe Bottom.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Abinger Hammer
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
Useful tips for Abinger Hammer property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for loft access on the day
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.