Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ascott Earl, Oxfordshire
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Ascott Earl, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Around Ascott Earl, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
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Pre-purchase roof survey in Ascott Earl
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you are committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp timbers or stains in the loft and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
For a small place like Ascott Earl, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Ascott Earl (OX7)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
FAQs for Ascott Earl
Is Ascott Earl in the area you cover?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Ascott Earl is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ascott Earl?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. 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.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Ascott Earl
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Also near Ascott Earl
Other services in Ascott Earl
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The property’s address and postcode
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Local roofs and buyers in Ascott Earl
With Minster Lovell Hall about 4.7 miles south, Ascott Earl sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For landlords with property near Ascott-Under-Wychwood station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Ascott Earl is about 6 miles north-west of Witney, in Oxfordshire. We cover Ascott Earl and the rest of Oxfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Ascott Earl. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
We cover every part of OX7 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on London Lane, Shipton Road and Heritage Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Ascott Earl: Ascott-under-Wychwood (1 mile east), Ascott d'Oyley (1 mile south-east), Shipton-under-Wychwood (1 mile west), Chilson (1 mile north-east) and Lyneham (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Witney (6 miles south-east), Carterton (7 miles south), Faringdon (15 miles south), Kidlington (12 miles east), Chipping Norton (5 miles north) and St John Street area (15 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Ascott Earl
Ascott Earl has its own railway station: Ascott-Under-Wychwood station. Open spaces near Ascott Earl include Blenheim Farm.
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
When to book a survey in Ascott Earl
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It’s a frequent finding on older houses.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blocked or leaking gutters
For an older house near a landmark like Church of the Holy Trinity, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How soon the report will arrive