Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Foxholes
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Foxholes. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Local roofs and buyers in Foxholes
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For landlords with property near Hertford East station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Trinity: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Foxholes is about 1 mile east of Hertford, in Hertfordshire. Foxholes is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Foxholes is one of the places in Hertfordshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We survey roofs across the SG13 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Ware Road, London Road and Fairfax Road, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Rush Green (1 mile north-east), Hertford Heath (1 mile south-east), Hertford (1 mile west), Little Amwell (1 mile south-east) and Horns Mill (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (10 miles north-west), St Albans (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (10 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles west), Harpenden (13 miles west) and Hitchin (14 miles north-west).
Around Foxholes
We work in homes and buildings around Simon Balle All-Through School, The Saracens Head Public House and Hertford Regional College and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Hertford East station, roughly 0.8 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Hertford County Hospital (1.5 miles west) and Mcmullen & Sons Brewery Museum (1.2 miles west). Not far away are King's Meads.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Foxholes
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We survey chimney stacks, natural slate and the roof space, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are loose pots and cracked flaunching and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
Houses in smaller places like Foxholes can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are looked at closely. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof does not stay small for long.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Foxholes (SG13)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Parking around Foxholes is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
How to book
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
When you need someone else
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Foxholes: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Foxholes is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Foxholes within the area you cover?
Yes, Foxholes is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
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 I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How big the roof is
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Which survey package you book
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
There is no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Places near Foxholes
More services for Foxholes
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That will not 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. In an older home around Foxholes, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
For a price for your roof in Foxholes, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- An independent view of the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.