Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Boars Hill
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Boars Hill from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Boars Hill: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in Boars Hill and across London and South East England. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. If you are worried about damp timbers or stains in the loft and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Somewhere as small as Boars Hill, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Boars Hill (OX1)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Boars Hill
Also in Boars Hill
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Boars Hill?
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. We check them as part of the survey.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
If you own a rental within reach of Oxford station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is added on top
Boars Hill: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Boars Hill?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Boars Hill?
Yes, Boars Hill is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
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. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Boars Hill
The wider area around Boars Hill has a long history of building, with Appleton Manor about 2.9 miles west. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Boars Hill is about 3 miles north of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Boars Hill and the rest of Oxfordshire. Boars Hill is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover.
All of OX1 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Berkeley Road, Jarn Way and Bedwells Heath, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Bayworth (1 mile south-east), Chilswell (1 mile north), Sunningwell (1 mile south), Hinksey Hill (1 mile north-east) and Harcourt Hill (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Oxford (4 miles north-east), Didcot (8 miles south), Bicester (14 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles south), Witney (10 miles north-west) and Carterton (13 miles west).
Local landmarks in Boars Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Raleigh Park, The Fox pub and Matthew Arnold School. The closest station to Boars Hill is Oxford station, roughly 2.8 miles north of the centre. A little further out are The Story Museum (2.8 miles north-east) and Westgate Shopping Centre (2.8 miles north-east). The countryside around Boars Hill includes Lashford Lane Fen and Harcourt Hill.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- What made you get in touch
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- A structural engineer’s report
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It typically takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near Boars Hill can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.