Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Roundshaw
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Roundshaw.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Roundshaw
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. Addington Palace, about 3.9 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Roundshaw. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Parking in Roundshaw, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when booking. For an older house near a landmark such as St. Paul's, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you let a flat or house near Wallington station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Roundshaw is about 2 miles south-west of Croydon, in Greater London. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Roundshaw. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London.
Every address in SM6, CR8 and CR0 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Link Lane, Milton Road and Redwing Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Russell Hill (1 mile east), Bandonhill (1 mile north), Peaks Hill (1 mile south), Waddon (1 mile north-east) and Wallington (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (10 miles north), City of Westminster (11 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north), St Pancras (12 miles north) and Shoreditch (12 miles north).
Local landmarks in Roundshaw
Typical jobs here are in homes near Wilson's School, Waddon Ponds and The John Fisher School. Roundshaw’s nearest station is Wallington station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Purley War Memorial Hospital (1.2 miles south-east) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (0.6 miles east). Not far away are Roundshaw Downs and Duppas Hill.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Roundshaw: what you get
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. 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 are buying. Typical surveys look at loose pots and cracked flaunching and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, across lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and gutters and downpipes.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Roundshaw might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Location
- Roundshaw (SM6, CR8, CR0)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Roundshaw
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Roundshaw?
Parking in Roundshaw, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Is drone flying allowed in Roundshaw?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you as you book.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we will talk to you about another date.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Height and safe access
- How big the roof is
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
Price depends partly on 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.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we can’t promise any result.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Also near Roundshaw
What else we do in Roundshaw
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
The survey, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a London conversion, the way into the roof space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Roundshaw runs like any other.
- 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.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets in another room
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Why it is worth a survey now in Roundshaw
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- PI and public liability insurance
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.