Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Brentford, Greater London
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Brentford and the rest of Greater London. We survey on any day of the week.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Brentford: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a report with photographs and recommendations. We’re often asked to look into roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and chimney mortar that has eroded, across gutters and downpipes, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate.
In London, lots of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. If you are buying a flat or house in Brentford, or have just had new roofing work done, those junctions are often where problems start. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Brentford (TW8, W3, W4, W5)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Brentford: your questions answered
Is my home in Brentford listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. 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.
Is drone flying allowed in Brentford?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Brentford?
Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Common roof problems in Brentford
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Brentford.
What to check before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. We check their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Brentford
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. If your home in Brentford is one of them, bay roofs, hips and later dormers each have their own details. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Historic houses like Kew Palace, about 0.5 miles south-east, show how far back building around Brentford goes. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. For landlords with property near Brentford station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Brentford is about 2 miles south of Ealing, in Greater London. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Brentford for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Brentford is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in TW8, W3, W4 and W5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on High Street, Market Place and New Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A4 and A315, Brentford is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Brentford include Brentford End (1 mile south-west), Northfields (1 mile north-west), Gillette Corner (1 mile west), Isleworth (2 miles south-west) and Spring Grove (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (9 miles east), City of Westminster (7 miles east), Marylebone (7 miles east), Kensington (4 miles east), St Pancras (8 miles east) and Shoreditch (10 miles east).
What’s near Brentford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Library for Iranian Studies, Brentford School for Girls and Kew College Prep, among other places. Also close by are The Brook pub (less than half a mile south-west) and Kew Green (0.7 miles south-east). There’s a railway station in Brentford itself: Brentford station. Other landmarks nearby include Treaty Centre (3 miles south-west) and Musical Museum (0.5 miles east). The countryside around Brentford includes Kew Gardens Lake and Long Wood.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What happens on the day
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- 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 the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Brentford
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents and landlords in Brentford book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof.