Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Canada
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Canada and the rest of Hampshire. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Canada
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you are committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are a ridge or slope that dips and chimney mortar that has eroded, across chimney stacks, natural slate and the roof space.
In a village or hamlet like Canada, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. 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. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Canada (SO51)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: 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.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
What else we do in Canada
Useful tips for Canada property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Share the report with your solicitor
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Why it is worth a survey now in Canada
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Older cottages and farmhouses around Canada can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Canada
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey works
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Canada, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Check pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Local roofs and buyers in Canada
A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you let a flat or house near Romsey station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Landford Manor lies about 2 miles north-west, so building around Canada goes back a long way. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Canada is about 5 miles north-west of Totton, in Hampshire. Whether the building in Canada is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. There’s also a page for Southampton.
All of SO51 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Close by, we survey roofs in West Wellow (1 mile north), Blackhill (1 mile east), East Wellow (1 mile east), Newbridge (2 miles south) and Plaitford Green (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Winchester (14 miles north-east), Eastleigh (11 miles east), Totton (5 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (9 miles east), Hedge End (13 miles east) and Lymington (14 miles south).
Around Canada
In Canada, that means homes and buildings near Rockingham Arms and the streets around them. Canada’s nearest station is Romsey station, about 4.6 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Tatchbury Mount Hospital (3.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Canada includes Copythorne Common.
Questions from Canada
Will you come out to Canada?
Yes, Canada is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Canada is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Canada?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll point you to the right survey. Surveys run on any day of the week.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow about one to two hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.