Surrey · London and the South East
Ash Vale Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Ash Vale. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Ash Vale
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We’re often asked to look into bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and a ridge or slope that dips, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Ash Vale, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you are buying in Ash Vale or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Ash Vale (GU12, GU14)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Height and safe access
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Also in Ash Vale
Why act early in Ash Vale
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Ash Vale, so it helps to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why book us in Ash Vale
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. A visit to Ash Vale is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
FAQs for Ash Vale
Is my home in Ash Vale listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. 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.
Are there drone restrictions around Ash Vale?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Farnborough Airport is about 3 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Buying a home or a new roof in Ash Vale
Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. Historic houses such as Wanborough Manor, about 3.6 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Ash Vale goes. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Ash Vale station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. For an older house near a landmark like St Mary's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Ash Vale is about 2 miles north-east of Aldershot, in Surrey. Surveys in Ash Vale work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Surrey, large and small. Guildford is in our area too.
Every address in GU12 and GU14 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Station Road East, Station Road West and Waverley Drive. Ash Vale sits on or near the B3165 and B3166. Other places close to Ash Vale include Ash (1 mile south), North Camp (1 mile north-west), Mytchett (2 miles north), Ash Green (2 miles south-east) and Aldershot (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Guildford (7 miles east), Woking (7 miles north-east), Camberley (5 miles north), Farnham (5 miles south-west), Egham (14 miles north-east) and Frimley (3 miles north).
Landmarks near Ash Vale
Typical jobs here are in homes near Ramillies Park, The Swan pub and National Aerospace Library. For rail, the closest station is Ash Vale station, roughly 0.5 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Frimley Park Hospital (3.8 miles north) and Farnham Castle (4.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Aunt's Pool and Ash Ranges.
Useful tips for Ash Vale property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ash Vale
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
Checking the roof from the ground
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.