Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Dibden, Hampshire
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Dibden and the rest of Hampshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in Dibden: what you get
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. If you’ve noticed patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and damp timbers or stains in the loft, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and the roof space alike.
In a smaller place like Dibden, some houses face open ground, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are checked closely. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Dibden (SO45)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents and landlords in Dibden book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
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. Do not go up yourself.
Buying a home or a new roof in Dibden
Dibden is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near 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. With Medieval Merchant's House about 2.5 miles north, Dibden sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of All Saints, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Dibden is about 1 mile west of Hythe, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Dibden and the rest of Hampshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Dibden is one of the places in Hampshire where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys.
All of SO45 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Cavalier Close, Cathay Gardens and Canterbury Drive and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Dibden Purlieu (1 mile south-east), Hythe (1 mile east), Marchwood (2 miles north-west), Beaulieu (3 miles south) and The Hummicks (4 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Winchester (14 miles north), Gosport (13 miles east), Eastleigh (8 miles north-east), Fareham (10 miles east), Totton (5 miles north-west) and Chandler's Ford (8 miles north).
Local landmarks in Dibden
We work in homes and buildings around Testwood School and Orchard Junior School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Southampton Town Quay station, roughly 2.2 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Royal South Hants Hospital (3.5 miles north) and Westquay (2.8 miles north).
What we can’t see
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
When to book a survey in Dibden
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we check.
Common reasons to book include:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Landlords with a home close to Southampton Town Quay station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
What to check before booking
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How soon the report will arrive
Places near Dibden
What else we do in Dibden
Dibden questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Dibden, take more of a battering?
It can do. Dibden is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Dibden?
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.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit to a smaller place like Dibden is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It is useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- 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.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
What happens if roof problems are left?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In an older home around Dibden, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Dibden
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- PI and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.