Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Cranford
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Cranford. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Cranford
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations. If you are worried about old water stains in the roof space and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it, on the roof space, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks alike.
In a London terrace or conversion, the roof frequently joins the neighbours’ roofs and shares their stacks and gutters. That matters for anyone buying in Cranford or checking a new roof there: only the parts we are given access to and can see safely are inspected. If it’s a flat, the lease normally sets out who is responsible for the roof.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Cranford (TW4, TW5, UB3)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
When to book a survey in Cranford
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from the ground.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of the Good Shepherd, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Cranford
Osterley House, about 2.6 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Cranford. If your home is one of 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. Cranford is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Heathrow Airport. Where the drone is part of the survey, we ask the airport for permission first, and only fly if it is given.
Cranford is in London, so parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised. If you let a flat or house near Hayes & Harlington station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Cranford is about 2 miles north of Feltham, in Greater London. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cranford. Cranford is one of the places in Greater London where we work. There’s also a page for London.
We work across the TW4, TW5 and UB3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Ely Road, Park Lane and The Avenue. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hatton (1 mile south-west), Harlington (1 mile north-west), Heathrow (2 miles west), Feltham (2 miles south) and Sipson (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (14 miles east), City of Westminster (11 miles east), Marylebone (12 miles east), Kensington (9 miles east), St Pancras (13 miles east) and Shoreditch (15 miles east).
Local landmarks in Cranford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Cranford Community College, The Queen's Head pub and Hounslow Heath. The nearest railway station is Hayes & Harlington station, about 1.9 miles north. A little further out are Hounslow Hospital (1.6 miles east) and Treaty Centre (2 miles east). For a walk, there’s Garden Lake and Northala Fields.
How it works
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. If that applies to your building, it’s useful to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Tell us about parking before the day
Getting a price
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings, as far as we can see them safely.
What else we do in Cranford
Questions from Cranford
Is drone flying allowed in Cranford?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Cranford is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Heathrow Airport. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cranford?
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 long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
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.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.