Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Hale Common Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Hale Common, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hale Common: local notes
Hale Common lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. Thatch survives on some older Isle of Wight buildings, and the whole island is open to sea air and wind. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Landlords with a home close to Shanklin station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. With Haseley Manor about 0.9 miles north, the area around Hale Common has a long history. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Hale Common is about 3 miles north-west of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. We visit Hale Common as part of our work across the Isle of Wight, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across the Isle of Wight, we cover Hale Common and the places around it. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of the PO36 and PO30 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Hale Common is on the A3056, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover Branstone (1 mile east), Winford (1 mile east), Princelett (1 mile south-east), Newchurch (1 mile north-east) and Apse Heath (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Newport (4 miles north-west), Ryde (6 miles north-east), Cowes (8 miles north-west), Sandown (3 miles east), Shanklin (3 miles south-east) and Ventnor (4 miles south). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you book.
Local landmarks in Hale Common
The nearest railway station is Shanklin station, roughly 2.5 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Museum of Country And Agriculture (1 mile north) and Sandown Castle (3.5 miles east). Open spaces near Hale Common include Stenbury Down and Alverstone Mead.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hale Common
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. We survey lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Somewhere as small as Hale Common, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often 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, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Hale Common (PO36, PO30)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Hale Common: your questions answered
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Hale Common, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Hale Common is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Hale Common?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Hale Common is about 3 miles from Sandown Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older rural homes like those around Hale Common can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
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What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Places near Hale Common
What else we do in Hale Common
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hale Common
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Hale Common. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
What this survey can’t tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Hale Common
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
What a survey costs
We confirm the exact price before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The property’s address and postcode
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.