Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Checkendon, Oxfordshire
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Checkendon and the rest of Oxfordshire. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blocked or leaking gutters
What happens if roof problems are left?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. In a place like Checkendon, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book us in Checkendon
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 20 years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Checkendon
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. Common reasons to book are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and flashings that have lifted or split, on natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
In a village or hamlet like Checkendon, homes are often 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, 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Checkendon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Checkendon
Greys Court, about 3.5 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Checkendon. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. 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.
The streets around a church such as St Peter and St Paul are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Checkendon is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Checkendon, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Checkendon is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
We work across RG8 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Uxmore Road, Whitehall Lane and Lovegrove's Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Stoke Row (1 mile east), Hook End (1 mile south), Woodcote (2 miles south-west), Heath End (2 miles north) and Ipsden (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (12 miles north-east).
What’s near Checkendon
Typical jobs here are in homes near Langtree School and The Black Horse pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 4.4 miles south-west of the centre. For a walk, there is Hartslock.
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Checkendon?
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which matters if work is needed.
We are often asked to look at:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Landlords with a home close to Goring & Streatley station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Before booking anyone
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What insurance they carry
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Common questions in Checkendon
Is Checkendon within the area you cover?
Yes. Checkendon is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Checkendon?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Other services in Checkendon
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older rural homes like those around Checkendon can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.