Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ford, Buckinghamshire
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Ford, with photos and a clear written report.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Ford, the journey is planned ahead of time: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 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.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Ford
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. If you’ve noticed gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and standing water on a flat extension roof, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
For a small place like Ford, 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 booking, 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 you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Place
- Ford (HP17)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Ford questions
Do you carry out roof surveys in Ford?
We do. 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 Ford?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s 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 inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit typically takes about one to two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
We’ll normally ask about:
- What made you get in touch
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- When you need the report by
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Why it is worth a survey now in Ford
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. For older village homes like those around Ford, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Ford
- Package prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ford
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It’s often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Landlords with a home close to Haddenham & Thame Parkway station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their report turnaround times
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What insurance they carry
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Ford
Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones 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. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Around Ford, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Ford is about 4 miles south-west of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. Ford gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Ford is one of the places in Buckinghamshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in HP17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Linden Way and Chapel Road and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Dinton (1 mile north-west), Upton (1 mile north), Bishopstone (2 miles east), Owlswick (2 miles south-east) and Sedrup (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Aylesbury (4 miles north-east), High Wycombe (11 miles south-east), Chesham (12 miles east), Marlow (15 miles south), Amersham (14 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (15 miles south-east).
What’s near Ford
We work in homes and buildings around The Dinton Hermit Public House. Ford’s nearest station is Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, roughly 2.8 miles west. Nearby you will also find Dinton Castle (1.6 miles north-west) and National Paralympic Heritage Centre (3.7 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill and Snakemoor.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Share the report with your solicitor
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.