Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Howe Hill, Oxfordshire
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Howe Hill, with photographs and a written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Howe Hill
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you are committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey natural slate, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are worn or lifted lead flashings and gutters choked with leaves and moss.
Somewhere as small as Howe Hill, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Howe Hill (OX49)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
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 the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Towns and villages near Howe Hill
Other services in Howe Hill
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Howe Hill
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Howe Hill
Is Howe Hill in the area you cover?
Yes, Howe Hill is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
Will you come out to Howe Hill?
Yes, Howe Hill is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when you book.
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.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Local roofs and buyers in Howe Hill
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. Stonor Park, about 3.2 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Howe Hill. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For any home in Howe Hill, it’s the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Howe Hill is about 9 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Howe Hill and nearby. Howe Hill is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover. There is also a page for Reading.
We survey roofs across the OX49 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you are just outside Howe Hill, we cover Cookley Green (1 mile south), Christmas Common (1 mile north-east), Northend (2 miles east), Shirburn (3 miles north) and Stonor (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Oxford (14 miles north-west), Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles west), Thame (9 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles south-east) and Benson (5 miles west).
Around Howe Hill
For a walk, there’s Warburg Nature Reserve and Bald Hill.
Useful tips for Howe Hill property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Share the report with your solicitor
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
How the survey works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Howe Hill frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Howe Hill, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.