Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Nettlebed Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Nettlebed, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Nettlebed
Greys Court, about 2.7 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Nettlebed. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings frequently carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Bartholomew are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Nettlebed is about 7 miles north of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We visit Nettlebed as part of our work across Oxfordshire, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Nettlebed is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We survey roofs across RG9 for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on The Ridgeway, Wanbourne Lane and Watlington Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Nettlebed: Catslip (1 mile south-east), Highmoor (2 miles south), Highmoor Cross (2 miles south), Bix (2 miles south-east) and Shepherd's Green (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (12 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (5 miles south-east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (9 miles north).
Local landmarks in Nettlebed
We work in homes and buildings around The Sun Inn Public House, among other places. The countryside around Nettlebed includes Warburg Nature Reserve.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Nettlebed
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We are frequently asked to look into slipped or missing slates and tiles and flashings that have lifted or split, across gutters and downpipes, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys.
Older buildings in small places like Nettlebed 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’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Nettlebed (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
FAQs for Nettlebed
Is Nettlebed within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is Nettlebed in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Why act early in Nettlebed
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, and it won’t look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Older and listed buildings around Nettlebed may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Photos and a written report every time
How it works
Photos 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 an hour or two on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older roofs in small places like Nettlebed can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- 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
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
Also near Nettlebed
More services for Nettlebed
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:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.