Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Bonchurch, Isle of Wight
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Bonchurch, and put it all in a written report with photographs.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Bonchurch
Bonchurch is within about 1 mile of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, so exposed details get a careful look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Rylstone Manor, about 1.8 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Bonchurch. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you own a rental within reach of Shanklin station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Bonchurch is about 2 miles south of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. In Bonchurch, as across the Isle of Wight, every roof gets the same careful survey. Bonchurch is one of the towns and villages in the Isle of Wight we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
All of PO38 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Shore Road, Leeson Road and Bonchurch Village Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Bonchurch: Luccombe Village (1 mile north), Ventnor (1 mile west), Steephill (2 miles west), Wroxall (2 miles north-west) and Shanklin (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (9 miles north-west), Ryde (9 miles north), Cowes (12 miles north-west), Sandown (4 miles north), East Cowes (12 miles north-west) and Oakfield (8 miles north). If you are somewhere remote, a little more planning is needed, so let us know when you contact us.
Local landmarks in Bonchurch
Around Bonchurch, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Bonchurch Inn. The closest station to Bonchurch is Shanklin station, about 2.4 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Sandown Castle (4.3 miles north) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (2.5 miles north). For a walk, there is Alverstone Mead and St Boniface Down.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Bonchurch
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. We are frequently asked to look into cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, on lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
Being in a small place like Bonchurch makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on any day of the week.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Bonchurch (PO38)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Also near Bonchurch
More services for Bonchurch
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
What we are asked to look at in Bonchurch
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
If you live in an older home near Old St. Boniface Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Common questions in Bonchurch
How do I find out if my home in Bonchurch is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Bonchurch?
Yes. Bonchurch is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a 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 test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Bonchurch can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in Bonchurch
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Bonchurch. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- House, block, shop or office
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to let us know when you contact us
Some details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.