Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Dockenfield, Surrey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Dockenfield, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Dockenfield frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets in another room
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
How to book
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Dockenfield
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We survey the roof space, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and common reasons people get in touch are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and standing water on a flat extension roof.
In a village or hamlet like Dockenfield, homes are frequently 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.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Dockenfield (GU10)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Dockenfield
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Dockenfield
Is my home in Dockenfield listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover smaller places like Dockenfield?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
How do I book a survey in Dockenfield?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Why get it checked now?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit on any day of the week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In a place like Dockenfield, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why us?
- 20+ years’ experience
- PI and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Common roof problems in Dockenfield
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 look at.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near The Church Of The Good Shepherd, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What experience they bring
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Local roofs and buyers in Dockenfield
Farnham Castle, about 4.1 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Dockenfield. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Bentley (Hampshire) station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Dockenfield is about 4 miles south of Farnham, in Surrey. In Dockenfield, as across Surrey, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Surrey, large and small. Our Guildford page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of GU10 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on The Street and Lake Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Batt's Corner (1 mile north-west), Frithend (1 mile west), Wishanger Common (1 mile south-east), Bucks Horn Oak (1 mile north-west) and Rowledge (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Guildford (12 miles north-east), Woking (15 miles north-east), Camberley (13 miles north), Farnham (4 miles north), Frimley (11 miles north) and Haslemere (7 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Dockenfield
For rail, the closest station is Bentley (Hampshire) station, about 2.4 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Powderham Castle (4 miles north) and Chase Community Hospital (4.1 miles south-west). Open spaces near Dockenfield include Farnham Heath.