Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chilworth, Southampton
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Chilworth? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Why act early in Chilworth
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it won’t look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you. In a small place like Chilworth, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Chilworth
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Chilworth
We survey roofs for buyers in Chilworth and across London and South East England. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. Common reasons to book are blistered or split felt on a flat roof and chimney mortar that has eroded, across gutters and downpipes, natural slate and chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Chilworth, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Chilworth (SO16)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Common roof problems in Chilworth
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you own a rental within reach of Swaythling station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Are they insured for the work?
How the survey works
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Chilworth can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Chilworth
Chilworth lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. About 2 miles south-east lies South Stoneham House, a reminder of how long the area around Chilworth has been built on. Older homes in the wider area frequently 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 live in an older home near Church of St Denys, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Chilworth is about 2 miles south-west of Chandler's Ford, in Southampton. We visit Chilworth as part of our work across Southampton. Across Southampton, we cover Chilworth and the places around it.
We work across the SO16 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Heatherlands Road, Roman Road and Pinelands Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Chilworth Old Village (1 mile north-west), Bassett (1 mile south), Lordswood (1 mile south-west), Highfield (2 miles south) and North Baddesley (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Southampton (3 miles south), Shirley (3 miles south), Regents Park (3 miles south-west), Townhill Park (3 miles south-east), Midanbury (3 miles south-east) and Thornhill (4 miles south-east).
What’s near Chilworth
We work in homes and buildings around Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton and Lakeside Country Park and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Swaythling station, about 1.9 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Eastleigh Museum (2.5 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (3.6 miles south). Not far away are Flexford Nature Reserve.
Nearby places to Chilworth
Also in Chilworth
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Chilworth
Do you cover smaller places like Chilworth?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Chilworth?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport covers Chilworth, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it is given. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How long does the survey visit take?
It normally takes about one to two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.