Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Downley, Buckinghamshire
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Downley, with photographs and a written report.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Downley
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. Typical surveys look at standing water on a flat extension roof and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys.
For a small place like Downley, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Downley (HP13)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Useful tips for Downley property owners
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Buying a home or a new roof in Downley
Downley is about 3 miles from Wycombe Air Park. If the drone is used for your survey, the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions first. About 0.8 miles east lies Hughenden Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Downley has been built on. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as St. James the Great are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Downley is about 2 miles north-west of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. Downley gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at what can be seen safely, photographs and a clear written report. Across Buckinghamshire, we cover Downley and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Reading.
We cover every part of HP13 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Willoughby's Walk, Gray's Lane and West Court. We also cover Naphill (1 mile north), Hughenden Valley (2 miles north-east), High Wycombe (2 miles south-east), Terriers (2 miles east) and Four Ashes (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (12 miles north), Chesham (8 miles north-east), Marlow (5 miles south), Amersham (8 miles east), Beaconsfield (6 miles south-east) and Chalfont St Peter (10 miles east).
Local landmarks in Downley
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Royal Grammar School, Le De Spencers Arms and The Tower and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is High Wycombe station, about 1.8 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include High Wycombe Castle (1.6 miles south-east) and Eden (1.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Downley includes Prestwood Local Nature Reserve.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Rural addresses near Downley can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, 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
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
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Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Downley
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Landlords with a home close to High Wycombe station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How soon the report will arrive
Downley questions
Will you come out to Downley?
Yes, Downley is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Downley is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Outbuildings and barns around Downley are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Visits on any day of the week
- PI and public liability insurance
- Every finding written up with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.