Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Alresford
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Alresford? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Alresford
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. 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 the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and the roof space, and the problems we are asked to look at most are roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
Smaller places like Alresford frequently have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Alresford. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Alresford (CO7)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit to Alresford is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Alresford
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What’s prompted the survey
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Honest limits
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Alresford
Alresford is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Take an older house close to Saint Andrew's Church: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. For landlords with property near Alresford station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Alresford is about 5 miles south-east of Colchester, in Essex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Alresford and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Essex. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CO7. Local streets include Station Road, Church Road and Cox Road, all of which we cover. If you are just outside Alresford, we cover Wivenhoe (2 miles west), Elmstead (2 miles north-west), Wivenhoe Quay (2 miles west), Wivenhoe Cross (2 miles north-west) and High Park Corner (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Colchester (5 miles north-west), Clacton-on-Sea (8 miles south-east), Harwich (13 miles north-east), Camulodunum (6 miles west), Heybridge (15 miles south-west) and Greenstead (4 miles north-west).
Near you in Alresford
Around Alresford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Pointer pub. Alresford has its own railway station: Alresford station. Other landmarks nearby include Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (1.5 miles west) and Colchester Castle (4.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Cockaynes Wood.
Questions from Alresford
How do I find out if my home in Alresford is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you come out to Alresford?
Yes, Alresford is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.