Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Merstone
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Merstone, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around Merstone frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Merstone
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, while you’re not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’ve noticed flashings that have lifted or split and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Merstone may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Merstone (PO30)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Merstone
More services for Merstone
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Merstone?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. 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.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
Arreton Manor, about 1.1 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Merstone. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Are they insured for the work?
Useful tips for Merstone property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Why act early in Merstone
A mortgage valuation isn’t a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. In a place like Merstone, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why book us in Merstone
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- An independent view of the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What to let us know when you get in touch
We will typically ask about:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Merstone
Merstone lies within about 5 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 can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Thatch survives on some older Isle of Wight buildings, and sea air and wind reach every part of the island. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you own a rental within reach of Shanklin station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Merstone is about 3 miles south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Merstone and the surrounding area. Our the Isle of Wight coverage includes Merstone and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO30 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Merstone Lane, Chapel Lane and Newlands, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Merstone: Arreton (1 mile north-east), Rookley (1 mile south-west), Hale Common (1 mile south-east), Rookley Green (1 mile south-west) and Blackwater (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Newport (3 miles north-west), Ryde (6 miles north-east), Cowes (7 miles north), Sandown (4 miles east), Shanklin (4 miles south-east) and Ventnor (5 miles south-east). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so tell us where you are as you book.
Landmarks near Merstone
For rail, the closest station is Shanklin station, roughly 3.8 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Whitecroft Hospital (2.2 miles west) and Carisbrooke Castle (3.1 miles north-west). The countryside around Merstone includes Stenbury Down and Alverstone Mead.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Merstone
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Merstone questions
Is my home in Merstone listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Merstone, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows, and Merstone is within about 5 miles of the coast.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
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 booking.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.