Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Frilford Heath Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Frilford Heath, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Frilford Heath: local notes
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. 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. Historic houses like Appleton Manor, about 2 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Frilford Heath goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Lawrence, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Frilford Heath is about 3 miles west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Frilford Heath is one of many places we visit across Oxfordshire, for homes and businesses alike. Frilford Heath is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Every address in OX13 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Tubney (1 mile north-west), Frilford (1 mile south), Marcham (1 mile south-east), Cothill (1 mile north-east) and Fyfield (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (7 miles north-east), Didcot (7 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles east), Witney (9 miles north-west), Carterton (12 miles north-west) and Wantage (7 miles south-west).
Near you in Frilford Heath
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Larkmead School and The Dog House Hotel and the streets around them. The closest station to Frilford Heath is Radley station, about 5 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Abingdon Community Hospital (2.5 miles east) and FitzHarris Castle (3.2 miles east). Open spaces near Frilford Heath include Cumnor Hill and Hitchcopse Pit.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Frilford Heath
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. We’re often asked to look into lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles.
Somewhere as small as Frilford Heath, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Frilford Heath (OX13)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Frilford Heath questions
Is Frilford Heath within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Is my home in Frilford Heath listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
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.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
What we cannot see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Frilford Heath, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft 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
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Find any records of previous roof work
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Other services in Frilford Heath
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Frilford Heath?
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Common reasons to book include:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
If you own a rental within reach of Radley station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Before booking anyone
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What experience they bring
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether you get a written report with photos
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Why act early in Frilford Heath
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. Outbuildings and barns around Frilford Heath are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why book with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 20+ years’ experience
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
See our cost guide and two real surveys.