Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Little Marlow
Wondering about the roof at a property in Little Marlow? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Little Marlow and across Buckinghamshire.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Little Marlow: local notes
Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. 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. With Cliveden about 2.9 miles south-east, Little Marlow sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Baptist are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Little Marlow is about 2 miles north-east of Marlow, in Buckinghamshire. In Little Marlow, as across Buckinghamshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Buckinghamshire. Reading is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: SL7. We cover properties on Church Road, Pound Lane and School Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Fern (1 mile north-east), Coldmoorholme (1 mile east), Well End (1 mile east), Burroughs Grove (1 mile north-west) and Bourne End (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover High Wycombe (3 miles north), Chesham (10 miles north-east), Amersham (9 miles north-east), Beaconsfield (4 miles north-east), Chalfont St Peter (8 miles east) and Princes Risborough (10 miles north).
Local landmarks in Little Marlow
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Queen's Head pub and Great Marlow School. The nearest railway station is Bourne End station, roughly 1.4 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include High Wycombe Castle (3.3 miles north) and Eden (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Taplow Lake and Warren Nature Reserve.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Little Marlow
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Typical surveys look at signs of past leaks inside the loft and standing water on a flat extension roof, across chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes.
In a village or hamlet like Little Marlow, homes are often 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. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Little Marlow (SL7)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Nearby places to Little Marlow
Also in Little Marlow
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Little Marlow, the journey is planned in advance: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Little Marlow
Do you cover smaller places like Little Marlow?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is Little Marlow in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Little Marlow as anywhere else.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How do I book a survey in Little Marlow?
Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Common roof problems in Little Marlow
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. 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:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you own a rental within reach of Bourne End station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
What affects the price in Little Marlow
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The size of the roof
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Little Marlow
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.