Oxfordshire · London and the South East
North Hinksey Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in North Hinksey, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. A visit to a smaller place like North Hinksey is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Check pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in North Hinksey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
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Pre-purchase roof survey in North Hinksey: what you get
Buyers in North Hinksey and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We survey the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles, and people most often book us about flashings that have lifted or split and blocked or leaking gutters.
Smaller places like North Hinksey frequently have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in North Hinksey or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Location
- North Hinksey (OX2)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in North Hinksey
Viewings rarely include a proper look at 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, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Landlords with a home close to Oxford station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What they won’t be able to tell you
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- House, block, shop or office
- Which survey package you book
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.
Places near North Hinksey
More services for North Hinksey
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Why it’s worth a survey now in North Hinksey
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit on any day of the week, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Arranging work in a smaller place like North Hinksey is easier with notice than in an emergency. A survey gives you that notice.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Visits on any day of the week
- Clear package prices, including VAT
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around North Hinksey
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. 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. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Holywell Manor, about 2 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around North Hinksey. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. The streets around a church such as St Peter and St Paul are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
North Hinksey is about 3 miles west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in North Hinksey and the rest of Oxfordshire. North Hinksey is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover.
All of OX2 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Lime Road, Elms Road and Cedar Road, all of which we cover. North Hinksey sits on or near the A34, which makes travel easy. Other places close to North Hinksey include Harcourt Hill (1 mile south), Osney (1 mile east), Grandpont (1 mile east), Jericho (1 mile north-east) and St John Street area (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (3 miles east), Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (12 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (5 miles south), Witney (9 miles west) and Carterton (13 miles west).
Local landmarks in North Hinksey
Typical jobs here are in homes near Raleigh Park, Matthew Arnold School and George Inn, among other places. You’ll also find Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (1.2 miles east) and Angus Library and Archive (1.4 miles east). The nearest railway station is Oxford station, about 1 mile east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Westgate Shopping Centre (1.3 miles east) and Oxford Castle and earlier settlement remains (1.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Harcourt Hill and Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds.
FAQs for North Hinksey
Do you cover smaller places like North Hinksey?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you cover North Hinksey?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and North Hinksey is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we will talk to you about another date.
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 does not replace one.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
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, so we cannot promise any saving.