Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Roughdown, Hampshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Roughdown and the rest of Hampshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof survey in Roughdown
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey natural slate, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
Somewhere as small as Roughdown, 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. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Roughdown (SO45)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Roughdown?
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 the ground.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If you let a flat or house near Netley station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What the survey won’t cover
Also near Roughdown
Other services in Roughdown
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Roughdown, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A mortgage valuation isn’t a roof survey. 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. For older village homes like those around Roughdown, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Roughdown
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Roughdown: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Roughdown?
Yes, Roughdown is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Roughdown?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What’s the best way to book?
Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Roughdown
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Roughdown homes and their roofs
Roughdown is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’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.
Beaulieu Palace House, about 2.7 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Roughdown. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Roughdown is about 3 miles south of Hythe, in Hampshire. Roughdown is one of many places we visit across Hampshire. Our Hampshire coverage includes Roughdown. There’s also a page for Southampton.
All of SO45 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover Holbury (1 mile north), Blackfield (1 mile east), Little Holbury (1 mile north), Langley (1 mile south-east) and Hardley (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as Gosport (10 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles north), Fareham (9 miles east), Totton (9 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (11 miles north) and Hedge End (8 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Roughdown
Typical jobs here are in homes near The New Forest Academy and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Netley station, roughly 4.3 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Beaulieu Abbey And Display Of Monastic Life (2.9 miles west) and Calshot Castle (3.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Mercury Marshes.