Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oaklands, Hertfordshire
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Oaklands? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Oaklands
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and chimney mortar that has eroded, across gutters and downpipes, chimney stacks and natural slate.
Houses in smaller places like Oaklands can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather usually shows first. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are looked at closely. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Oaklands (AL6)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Oaklands
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Landlords and agents in Oaklands book surveys as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof.
Common questions in Oaklands
Do you cover Oaklands?
Yes, Oaklands is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
Do you cover smaller places like Oaklands?
Yes, Oaklands is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. On timing, it normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit to Oaklands is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Places near Oaklands
Other services in Oaklands
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Tips from our surveys
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Oaklands homes and their roofs
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael and All Angels, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you own a rental within reach of Welwyn North station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Digswell House lies about 1.8 miles south, so building around Oaklands goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Oaklands is about 3 miles north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. Anywhere in Oaklands, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Oaklands. You can also see our page for London.
Every address in AL6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Briary Wood End, Lower Mardley Hill and Heathbrow Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Oaklands: Woolmer Green (1 mile north-east), Harmer Green (1 mile south-east), Burnham Green (1 mile south-east), Datchworth (2 miles north-east) and Knebworth (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Watford (15 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles north), St Albans (9 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east) and Welwyn Garden City (3 miles south).
Near you in Oaklands
In Oaklands, that means homes and buildings near Monk's Walk School, Danesbury Park and The North Star pub. Oaklands’s nearest station is Welwyn North station, roughly 1.3 miles south. Nearby you will also find Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (4.2 miles south) and Datchworth Museum (1.5 miles east). Open spaces near Oaklands include Mardley Heath.
Leave it or get it looked at?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Oaklands, so it helps to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. A survey gives you that notice.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- A written report with photos
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Package prices that include VAT
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.