Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Colden Common
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Colden Common, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Colden Common
Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Historic houses such as South Stoneham House, about 4.8 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Colden Common goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Shawford station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. If you live in an older home near Church of the Holy Trinity, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Colden Common is about 2 miles north-east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Colden Common across London and South East England. Across Hampshire, we cover Colden Common and the places around it. Our Southampton page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the SO21 and SO50 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as St Vigor Way, Ash Close and Birch Close, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Brambridge (1 mile south-west), Nob's Crook (1 mile south-east), Lord's Wood (1 mile south-west), Highbridge (1 mile south-west) and Fisher's Pond (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Winchester (4 miles north), Gosport (15 miles south-east), Fareham (11 miles south-east), Horndean (15 miles south-east), Totton (10 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles west).
Local landmarks in Colden Common
We work in homes and buildings around Thornden School. Colden Common’s nearest station is Shawford station, roughly 1.9 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Wolvesey Castle (4.4 miles north) and Eastleigh Museum (2.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Colden Common includes Shawford Down and Twyford Down.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Colden Common
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. Typical surveys look at signs of past leaks inside the loft and a ridge or slope that dips, across the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
Around Colden Common, 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. Older roofs often have bitumen felt under the coverings, as breathable membranes only arrived in the late 1990s.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Colden Common (SO21, SO50)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Colden Common
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are frequently the reason.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Colden Common is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Related advice
Places near Colden Common
Other services in Colden Common
Landlords, agents and block managers in Colden Common
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Colden Common and across Hampshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Colden Common questions
Are there drone restrictions around Colden Common?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Colden Common is about 1 mile from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
How do I find out if my home in Colden Common is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.