Surrey · London and the South East
Merstham Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Merstham, with photos and a clear written report.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near Merstham can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Merstham, phone 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in Merstham
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. Common reasons to book are worn or lifted lead flashings and old water stains in the roof space, on clay and concrete tiles, gutters and downpipes and natural slate.
Older buildings in small places like Merstham may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Merstham (RH1)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Merstham
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Problems we come across often include:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Landlords with a home close to Merstham station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Why act early in Merstham
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. An independent look tells you how the roof is now. For older village homes like those around Merstham, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- Photographs and a written report every time
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Prices that include VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Nearby places to Merstham
Other services in Merstham
Common questions in Merstham
How do I find out if my home in Merstham is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Merstham?
Yes, Merstham is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Local roofs and buyers in Merstham
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Merstham is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Redhill Aerodrome. If the drone is used for your survey, the exact boundary is checked for the address first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Katharine, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Merstham is about 2 miles north of Redhill, in Surrey. Surveys in Merstham work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Across Surrey, we cover Merstham. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RH1. That includes homes and businesses on London Road North, Shepherd's Hill and Church Hill. We also cover the places around Merstham: South Merstham (1 mile south), Gatton (1 mile south-west), Holmethorpe (1 mile south), Hooley (2 miles north) and Netherne on-the-Hill (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (7 miles north-west), Horley (6 miles south), Ewell (7 miles north-west), Reigate (3 miles south-west), Walton-on-Thames (14 miles north-west) and Caterham (3 miles north-east).
Near you in Merstham
Around Merstham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Merstham Park School, Nutfield Marshes and East Surrey College. Merstham’s nearest station is Merstham station, roughly 0.5 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Surrey Fire Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Bletchingley Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Not far away are South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Colley Hill.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys