Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Princelett, Isle of Wight
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Princelett, and put it all in a written report with photographs.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Pre-purchase roof survey in Princelett: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and clay and concrete tiles, and common reasons people get in touch are ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Somewhere as small as Princelett, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Princelett (PO36)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. For older village homes like those around Princelett, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What you get with us
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Places near Princelett
Also in Princelett
Buying a home or a new roof in Princelett
Princelett lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. A number of the island’s villages keep thatched roofs on older buildings, and sea air and wind reach every part of the island. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Historic houses such as Haseley Manor, about 1.8 miles north-west, show how far back building around Princelett goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you let a flat or house near Shanklin station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Princelett is about 5 miles south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Anywhere in Princelett, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our the Isle of Wight coverage includes Princelett. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO36 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you are just outside Princelett, we cover Apse Heath (1 mile north-east), Branstone (1 mile north), Winford (1 mile north-east), Whiteley Bank (1 mile south-west) and Hale Common (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Newport (5 miles north-west), Ryde (6 miles north), Cowes (9 miles north-west), Ventnor (3 miles south), East Cowes (8 miles north-west) and Oakfield (6 miles north-east). For harder-to-reach addresses, the survey takes a little more planning, so mention it when booking.
Landmarks near Princelett
Princelett’s nearest station is Shanklin station, about 1.4 miles south-east. Nearby you will also find Wight Aviation Museum (1.3 miles north-east) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (1.4 miles south-east). Not far away are Alverstone Mead and Stenbury Down.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask for loft access on the day
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Checking the roof from ground level
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Cottages and farmhouses around Princelett often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. Blocked outlets are checked as well.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Princelett
Will you come out to Princelett?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is drone flying allowed in Princelett?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Princelett is about 3 miles from Sandown Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.