Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Begbroke Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Begbroke and across Oxfordshire.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Questions from Begbroke
Is drone flying allowed in Begbroke?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Oxford Airport is about 1 mile away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
Do you cover smaller places like Begbroke?
Yes, Begbroke is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Begbroke?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when you book.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Begbroke
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. 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 so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We survey natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks, and people most often book us about slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and standing water on a flat extension roof.
In a village or hamlet like Begbroke, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Begbroke (OX5)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Begbroke
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Begbroke is about 1 mile from Oxford Airport. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Philip, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. With Blenheim Palace about 2.2 miles north-west, the area around Begbroke has a long history. 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. If you own a rental within reach of Oxford Parkway station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Begbroke is about 6 miles north-west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We visit Begbroke as part of our work across Oxfordshire, for homes and businesses alike. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. Oxford is in our area too.
All of OX5 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Woodstock Road, Woodstock Road East and Woodstock Road West, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Begbroke: Yarnton (1 mile south-east), Thrupp (1 mile north-east), Bladon (1 mile west), Worton (2 miles south-west) and Shipton-on-Cherwell (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (6 miles south-east), Didcot (15 miles south), Bicester (9 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (10 miles south), Witney (8 miles west) and Carterton (12 miles west).
Local landmarks in Begbroke
We work in homes and buildings around Gosford Hill School and The Royal Sun pub, among other places. The closest station to Begbroke is Oxford Parkway station, about 2.3 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Acland Hospital (4.9 miles south-east) and Oxford Bus Museum (2.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds.
Why get it checked now?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on weekdays and at weekends, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Older and listed buildings around Begbroke may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Honest limits
It’s useful to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How big the roof is
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Also in Begbroke
What happens on the day
We’ll ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older rural homes like those around Begbroke can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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 beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.