Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Carisbrooke
A careful look at the roof at your property in Carisbrooke, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Carisbrooke
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. If you’ve noticed sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and blocked or leaking gutters, we can find out what’s behind it.
Around Carisbrooke, you will mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Location
- Carisbrooke (PO30)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a smaller place like Carisbrooke, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from the ground and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
How to book
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Carisbrooke
Carisbrooke lies within about 4 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. About 0.3 miles south-east lies Carisbrooke Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Carisbrooke has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near St. Mary's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Carisbrooke is about 1 mile south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Carisbrooke is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Carisbrooke is one of the places in the Isle of Wight where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
We work across the PO30 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Down Lane, Purdy Road and Castle Lane. We also cover Clatterford (1 mile south), Gunville (1 mile north), Plaish (1 mile south-west), Bowcombe (1 mile south-west) and Gatcombe (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ryde (7 miles east), Cowes (5 miles north), Sandown (7 miles east), Shanklin (7 miles south-east), Ventnor (8 miles south-east) and East Cowes (5 miles north). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so please mention your location when you phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landmarks near Carisbrooke
Around Carisbrooke, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Christ The King College, Seaclose Park and Island Innovation VI Form Campus and the streets around them. A little further out are Isle of Wight Music Museum (1.1 miles north-east) and Carisbrooke Castle (under half a mile south-east). The countryside around Carisbrooke includes Briddlesford Nature Reserve and Brighstone Down.
Nearby places to Carisbrooke
Also in Carisbrooke
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we can’t promise any result.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- Anything about access we should know
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
FAQs for Carisbrooke
Do you cover smaller places like Carisbrooke?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Carisbrooke listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we can’t promise any saving.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will you need to get into the loft?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. In a smaller place like Carisbrooke, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.