Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Norwood Hill
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Norwood Hill, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Leave it or get it looked at?
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. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer, and the report is written for you to use. In a small place like Norwood Hill, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
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 book us in Norwood Hill
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Norwood Hill
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and damp timbers or stains in the loft, across clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and chimney stacks.
For a small place like Norwood Hill, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Norwood Hill (RH6)
- Region
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Norwood Hill: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Norwood Hill is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you come out to Norwood Hill?
Yes. Norwood Hill is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
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.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. In a hamlet or village like Norwood Hill, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll 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.
- 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 before the day
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Norwood Hill
The flight restriction zone around Gatwick Airport covers Norwood Hill, or comes right up to its edge. If your survey includes the drone, we ask the airport for permission first, and only fly if it is given. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
In and around Norwood Hill, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Norwood Hill is about 2 miles west of Horley, in Surrey. We visit Norwood Hill as part of our work across Surrey. Across Surrey, we cover Norwood Hill and the places around it.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RH6. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Nalderswood (1 mile north-west), Charlwood (2 miles south), Cudworth (2 miles south-west), Parkgate (2 miles west) and Russ Hill (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Epsom (11 miles north), Redhill (5 miles north-east), Ewell (12 miles north), Reigate (4 miles north), Caterham (9 miles north-east) and Dorking (6 miles north-west).
What’s near Norwood Hill
Typical jobs here are in homes near Edolph's Copse, among other places. The closest station to Norwood Hill is Horley station, roughly 2.8 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Reigate Castle (4.2 miles north) and Langley Green Hospital (3.6 miles south-east). The countryside around Norwood Hill includes Reigate Heath.
What we look for on each type of roof
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.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Common roof problems in Norwood Hill
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Look out for signs like these:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
If you let a flat or house near Horley station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before booking anyone
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA