Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Orchard Leigh
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Orchard Leigh, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we check each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Orchard Leigh
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. We’re often asked to look into sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, on the roof space, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks.
Being in a small place like Orchard Leigh makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Orchard Leigh (HP5)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
What happens if roof problems are left?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. 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. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Orchard Leigh, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why us?
- 20+ years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- PI and public liability insurance
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Questions from Orchard Leigh
Will you come out to Orchard Leigh?
Yes. Orchard Leigh is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Orchard Leigh?
Yes, Orchard Leigh is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How do I book a survey in Orchard Leigh?
Just ring 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Orchard Leigh can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Orchard Leigh homes and their roofs
A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. 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. Historic houses such as Chenies Manor House, about 3.6 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Orchard Leigh goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Landlords with a home close to Berkhamsted station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Orchard Leigh is about 2 miles east of Chesham, in Buckinghamshire. We cover Orchard Leigh and the rest of Buckinghamshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Buckinghamshire. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
We cover every part of HP5 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Rushmere Lane and Jasons Hill or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Lye Green (1 mile west), Botley (1 mile south), Ley Hill (1 mile south), Tyler's Hill (1 mile south) and Ashley Green (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (12 miles north-west), High Wycombe (10 miles south-west), Marlow (13 miles south-west), Amersham (3 miles south-west), Beaconsfield (8 miles south-west) and Chalfont St Peter (8 miles south).
Around Orchard Leigh
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chesham Grammar School and The White Hart pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Orchard Leigh is Berkhamsted station, about 3 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Amersham Fair Organ Museum (3 miles south) and Amersham Hospital (4.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Sands Bank.
Nearby places to Orchard Leigh
What else we do in Orchard Leigh
Common roof problems in Orchard Leigh
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not 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.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
If you live in an older home near St George's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How soon the report will arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What follow-up you get after the report
Checking the roof from ground level
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.