Surrey · London and the South East
Guildford Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Guildford and the rest of Surrey. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Guildford
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. Typical surveys look at damp timbers or stains in the loft and a ridge or slope that dips, on the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and chimney stacks.
Property in a place the size of Guildford can change hands quickly, and roof problems are easy to miss on a viewing. Equally, a new roof can look tidy from the street while small snags hide at the ridge, valleys or flashings. A written report before you commit gives you specific points to take back to the seller or the roofer.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Guildford (GU1, GU2, GU4, GU3)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Guildford
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
Places near Guildford
More services for Guildford
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Guildford
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Take an older house close to Church of St John the Evangelist: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What follow-up you get after the report
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Visits in a place the size of Guildford range from flats and family homes to offices and blocks. Access is the part that changes most from one building to the next, so it is agreed before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking near the property
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What affects the price in Guildford
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How big the roof is
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Guildford: local notes
About 0.9 miles south lies Guildford Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Guildford has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For landlords with property near London Road (Guildford) station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Guildford is about 27 miles south-west of London, in Surrey. Wherever you are in Guildford, we can come and survey your property. We cover towns and villages across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages.
We work across the GU1, GU2, GU4 and GU3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Church Road, Market Street and High Street, and we cover them all. Guildford is on the A3 and A25, so it is easy for us to get to. Other places close to Guildford include Bellfields (1 mile north), Abbotswood (1 mile south-east), Stoughton (1 mile north-west), Westborough (1 mile west) and Burpham (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (9 miles north-west), Epsom (15 miles north-east), Farnham (10 miles west), Egham (13 miles north) and Walton-on-Thames (12 miles north-east). Guildford is among the bigger towns we cover in Surrey.
What’s near Guildford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The King's Head pub, Guildford High School and Surrey Maths School. For rail, the closest station is London Road (Guildford) station, about 0.6 miles south-east. A little further out are Guildford Castle (0.9 miles south) and Guildford House (0.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Silent Pool and Pewley Hill.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. We will say if the flue needs a specialist.
Guildford: your questions answered
Do you cover Guildford?
Yes, Guildford is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Guildford?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot 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. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.