Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Fingest
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Fingest, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof survey in Fingest
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a report with photos. If you’ve noticed bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and gutters choked with leaves and moss, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Fingest, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Fingest (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Fingest
Is Fingest in the area you cover?
Yes, Fingest is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fingest?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Fingest?
To book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Fingest homes and their roofs
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Bartholomew, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you let a flat or house near Saunderton station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Stonor Park, about 2.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fingest. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Fingest is about 5 miles north-west of Marlow, in Oxfordshire. Fingest is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Every address in RG9 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Turville (1 mile west), Little Frieth (1 mile south-east), Cadmore End (1 mile north-east), Frieth (1 mile south-east) and Bolter End (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Thame (10 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles south), Benson (10 miles west), Chinnor (6 miles north), Tilehurst (13 miles south-west) and Wallingford (11 miles west).
Near you in Fingest
In Fingest, that means homes and buildings near The Chequers Inn. For rail, the closest station is Saunderton station, about 4.8 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Wycombe Hospital (5.4 miles east). The countryside around Fingest includes Warburg Nature Reserve and Bald Hill.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How big the roof is
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Why act early in Fingest
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. In a small place like Fingest, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Also near Fingest
Other services in Fingest
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fingest
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a hamlet or village like Fingest, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe 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 the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.