Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Purley on Thames
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Purley on Thames. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Purley on Thames: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and the roof space, and people most often book us about blistered or split felt on a flat roof and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing.
Smaller places like Purley on Thames frequently have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you are buying in Purley on Thames or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Purley on Thames (RG8, RG31, RG4)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Being in a smaller place like Purley on Thames does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in Purley on Thames
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The size of the roof
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Purley on Thames
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. About 0.6 miles north-east lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Purley on Thames has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: 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 Tilehurst station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Purley on Thames is about 3 miles west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Purley on Thames and nearby. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Purley on Thames.
Surveys in RG8, RG31 and RG4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Glebe Road, Hazel Road and Menpes Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Purley on Thames: Mapledurham (1 mile north-east), Tilehurst (1 mile south), Sulham (1 mile south-west), Little Heath (2 miles south) and Trench Green (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Didcot (12 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles north-east), Benson (10 miles north), Wallingford (9 miles north-west), Great Western Park (13 miles north-west) and Watlington (11 miles north).
Landmarks near Purley on Thames
Around Purley on Thames, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Denefield School, Round Copse and Roebuck pub, among other places. The closest station to Purley on Thames is Tilehurst station, roughly 1 mile south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (2.4 miles south-east). Not far away are Hosehill Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
Purley on Thames questions
Is Purley on Thames in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Will you come out to Purley on Thames?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
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.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
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.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers