Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Padbury
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Padbury and across Buckinghamshire.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Padbury
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and the roof space, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp timbers or stains in the loft and quick fixes on flashings and valleys.
Somewhere as small as Padbury, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Padbury (MK18)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Other services in Padbury
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Padbury
Do you cover Padbury?
Yes, Padbury is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Will you come out to Padbury?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Will you need to get into the loft?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Padbury
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Padbury
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Padbury has a long history of building, with Claydon House about 3.3 miles south. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Padbury is about 2 miles south-east of Buckingham, in Buckinghamshire. Anywhere in Padbury, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Buckinghamshire coverage includes Padbury and the places around it. There is also a page for Milton Keynes.
All of MK18 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Main Street, Lower Way and Old Springfields and the roads around them. Other places close to Padbury include Adstock (1 mile east), Buckingham (2 miles north-west), Thornborough (2 miles north-east), Steeple Claydon (3 miles south-west) and Middle Claydon (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Aylesbury (12 miles south-east), Elmhurst (12 miles south-east), Southcourt (13 miles south-east), Haydon Hill (11 miles south-east), Turnfurlong (13 miles south-east) and Haddenham (14 miles south).
What’s near Padbury
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Black Bird pub and Royal Latin School, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Buckingham Castle (2.6 miles north-west) and Buckingham Movie Museum (2.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Padbury includes Buckingham Sand Pit.
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Padbury can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Padbury, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
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What we’re asked to look at in Padbury
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
Look out for signs like these:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What exactly goes into their report
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Roof area
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The property’s address and postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.