Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Drayton, Oxfordshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Drayton, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Drayton
We survey roofs for buyers in Drayton and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. If you’ve noticed loose pots and cracked flaunching and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Drayton, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you are buying in Drayton or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Drayton (OX14)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Drayton
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Take an older house close to Church of Saint Peter: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
What to check before booking
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What exactly goes into their report
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How long the report takes to arrive
Towns and villages near Drayton
Other services in Drayton
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Drayton
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Which survey package you book
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- Anything about access we should know
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Parking around Drayton is normally easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Why act early in Drayton
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. Blocked gutters on homes around Drayton overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- PI and public liability insurance
- Photos and a written report every time
Surveys for landlords and agents in Drayton
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Drayton
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Historic houses such as Clifton Hampden Manor, about 4.4 miles east, show how far back building around Drayton goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you own a rental within reach of Appleford station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Drayton is about 3 miles south-west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Drayton and the rest of Oxfordshire. Drayton is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. There’s also a page for Oxford.
Surveys in OX14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include High Street, Monk Close and Abbot Crescent. We also cover the places around Drayton: Sutton Wick (1 mile north-east), Steventon (2 miles south), Milton Heights (2 miles south), Marcham (2 miles north-west) and Milton Hill (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (8 miles north-east), Didcot (4 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles north-east), Witney (12 miles north-west), Carterton (15 miles north-west) and Wantage (6 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Drayton
Typical jobs here are in homes near Larkmead School and The Red Lion pub. Drayton’s nearest station is Appleford station, about 3 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include FitzHarris Castle (2.3 miles north-east) and Abingdon Community Hospital (1.7 miles north). The countryside around Drayton includes Dry Sandford Pit.
Drayton questions
Is Drayton in the area you cover?
Yes, Drayton is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like Drayton?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
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.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.