Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Gilbert Street
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Gilbert Street.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Why it’s worth a survey now in Gilbert Street
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. 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. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Why book with us
- 98% of customers satisfied
- An independent look at the roof
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Gilbert Street: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. If you’ve noticed gutters choked with leaves and moss and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Gilbert Street, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Gilbert Street (SO24)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Gilbert Street, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- A structural engineer’s report
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Landlord and commercial surveys in Gilbert Street
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Gilbert Street?
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- When you’ll get the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What they won’t be able to tell you
FAQs for Gilbert Street
Is my home in Gilbert Street listed or in a conservation area?
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 Gilbert Street in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Gilbert Street as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Local roofs and buyers in Gilbert Street
About 4.2 miles north lies Bentworth Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Gilbert Street has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Gilbert Street is about 6 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Whether the building in Gilbert Street is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Gilbert Street is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton.
All of SO24 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Andrew's Lane, Gilbert Street and Swelling Hill. We also cover Ropley (1 mile south-west), Kitwood (1 mile north-east), North Street (1 mile north-west), Charlwood (1 mile south-east) and Ropley Dean (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (12 miles north), Winchester (11 miles west), Eastleigh (15 miles south-west), Horndean (13 miles south), Alton (6 miles north-east) and Waterlooville (14 miles south).
Local landmarks in Gilbert Street
Well-known places in the area include Barton Castle (4.1 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (4.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Gilbert Street include Shutts Copse and Red Hill.