Greater London · London and the South East
Dormers Wells Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Dormers Wells. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Dormers Wells
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. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both. We survey chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and gutters and downpipes, and common reasons people get in touch are flashings that have lifted or split and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in Dormers Wells might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Dormers Wells (UB1, UB6, UB2)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A structural engineer’s report
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Dormers Wells homes and their roofs
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Historic houses such as Osterley House, about 1.9 miles south, show how far back building around Dormers Wells 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. For landlords with property near Southall station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Dormers Wells is about 1 mile north-east of Southall, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Dormers Wells can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the UB1, UB6 and UB2 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Swan Road, North Road and Meadow Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Main roads around Dormers Wells include the A4020, so getting to you is simple. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Southall (1 mile south-west), West Ealing (1 mile south-east), Hanwell (1 mile south-east), Yeading (2 miles north-west) and Yiewsley (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (12 miles east), City of Westminster (9 miles east), Marylebone (9 miles east), Kensington (7 miles east), St Pancras (11 miles east) and Shoreditch (12 miles east).
What’s near Dormers Wells
In Dormers Wells, that means homes and buildings near Dormers Wells High School, The Plough pub and Castle Bar Park, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Southall station, about 0.9 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find St Bernard's Hospital (0.9 miles south-east) and Gunnersbury Park House - Large Mansion (3.5 miles east). Open spaces near Dormers Wells include Northala Fields and Litten Nature Reserve.
What we are asked to look at in Dormers Wells
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Emmanuel Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Questions to ask before you book
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether VAT is added on top
What else we do in Dormers Wells
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Let us know your timetable
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Common questions in Dormers Wells
Is my home in Dormers Wells listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Dormers Wells?
Sometimes, yes. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
What happens on the day
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In Dormers Wells, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when you book.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Booking a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.