Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Banbury Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Banbury, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Why get it checked now?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. A defect spotted early can be planned and budgeted for, whereas a leak tends to force the timing on you, in Banbury as anywhere.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- A report with photographs
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Banbury: what you get
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. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. Typical surveys look at cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, on gutters and downpipes, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Most homes in a town like Banbury are houses, so the roof normally belongs to the property you’re buying or paying for, apart from details shared with the house next door on semis and terraces. That makes the roof’s condition a simple money question: it is better to know about it before exchange or before the final payment than afterwards. A written report with photos gives you specific points to raise with the seller or the roofer.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Banbury (OX16, OX17)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Banbury
Do you carry out roof surveys in Banbury?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Banbury is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Banbury?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Banbury
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
If you own a rental within reach of Banbury station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Parking in a town like Banbury is normally simple, but let us know if there’s a driveway or any restrictions. We look at the roof from ground level and from windows, then from the loft where there is safe access, and from the roof itself where it is 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.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets in another room
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Read more
Places near Banbury
What else we do in Banbury
Buying a home or a new roof in Banbury
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Take an older house close to Saint Paul's: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Broughton Castle, about 2.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Banbury. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Banbury is in Oxfordshire. Banbury is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Oxford is in our area too.
We work across the OX16 and OX17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets like High Street, Market Place and Grimsbury Square. Banbury sits on or near the A361 and A422, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Banbury include Neithrop (1 mile west), Ruscote (1 mile west), Grimsbury (1 mile east), Drayton (1 mile north-west) and North Newington (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Bicester (14 miles south-east), Bure Park (13 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (12 miles south-west), Woodstock (15 miles south), Bloxham (3 miles south) and Charlbury (14 miles south-west). Banbury is among the bigger towns we cover in Oxfordshire.
Around Banbury
We work in homes and buildings around People's Park, Banbury Academy and Duke of Wellington pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Banbury is Banbury station, about 0.8 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Castle Quay Shopping Centre (0.5 miles east) and Banbury Castle (0.5 miles east). Not far away are Crouch Hill and Farthinghoe Nature Reserve.