Portsmouth · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Cosham
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Cosham, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Cosham
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and the roof space, and common reasons people get in touch are signs of past leaks inside the loft and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Cosham, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Cosham. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Location
- Cosham (PO6, PO3, PO2)
- Wider area
- Portsmouth
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Nearby places to Cosham
Also in Cosham
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, 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, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. A visit to Cosham is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Cosham
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Cosham questions
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Cosham?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Cosham?
Yes, Cosham is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
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 photographs.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when you book.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
What we are asked to look at in Cosham
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
For landlords with property near Cosham station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before booking anyone
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
When you need someone else
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Local roofs and buyers in Cosham
Cosham lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. 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.
The streets around a church like Church of St Philip are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Historic houses like Warblington Castle, about 4.4 miles east, show how far back building around Cosham goes. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Cosham is about 2 miles south-west of Purbrook, in Portsmouth. We survey roofs in Cosham and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Portsmouth coverage includes Cosham.
All of PO6, PO3 and PO2 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Dean Road, Park Lane and Elgin Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A397, Cosham is easy for us to reach. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Wymering (1 mile north-west), Hilsea (1 mile south), Drayton (1 mile east), Widley (1 mile north-east) and Paulsgrove (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Southsea (4 miles south), Milton (3 miles south), Landport (3 miles south), Portsea (3 miles south-west), Portsmouth Point (4 miles south-west) and Fratton (3 miles south).
Landmarks near Cosham
In Cosham, that means homes and buildings near The First Post pub, Alexandra Park and Springfield School, among other places. There’s a railway station in Cosham itself: Cosham station. Nearby you will also find Tricorn Centre (2.9 miles south) and World War I Remembrance Centre (1 mile south-east). Open spaces near Cosham include Southmoor Nature Reserve and Portsdown Hill.