Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Brailes, Oxfordshire
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Lower Brailes. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Brailes
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Take an older house close to Church of St George: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lower Brailes
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. That is when the findings are most useful, while you are not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’ve noticed lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and blocked or leaking gutters, we can find out what’s behind it, on gutters and downpipes, the roof space and chimney stacks alike.
Some older homes in villages like Lower Brailes are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Lower Brailes (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Lower Brailes, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Why get it checked now?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Older cottages and farmhouses around Lower Brailes can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
See our cost guide or our case studies.
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Lower Brailes homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
Whatever the street in Lower Brailes, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
Lower Brailes is about 8 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Lower Brailes gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Lower Brailes and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: OX15. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on High Street, School Lane and Orchard Close or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Lower Brailes include Upper Brailes (1 mile north-west) and Sutton-under-Brailes (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Banbury (8 miles east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south), Neithrop (8 miles east), Grimsbury (10 miles east), Ruscote (8 miles east) and Bloxham (8 miles east).
Landmarks near Lower Brailes
In Lower Brailes, that means homes and buildings near George Hotel And Attached Carriage Entrance And Barn. Nearby you will also find Ellen Badger Hospital (3.5 miles west). For a walk, there is Castle Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
FAQs for Lower Brailes
Do you carry out roof surveys in Lower Brailes?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Lower Brailes as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Lower Brailes 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.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Nearby places to Lower Brailes
Other services in Lower Brailes
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Lower Brailes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks