Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shide, Isle of Wight
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Shide, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Shide: local notes
Shide is within about 5 miles of the coast, and wind near 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. About 1 mile west lies Carisbrooke Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Shide has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
Shide is about 1 mile south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Shide for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Shide is one of the places in the Isle of Wight we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO30. We cover properties on Pan Lane, Ash Road and Dairy Lane and the roads around them. Shide sits on or near the A3020. If you’re just outside Shide, we cover Newport (1 mile north-west), Blackwater (1 mile south), Downend (2 miles east), Merstone (3 miles south-east) and Rookley (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ryde (6 miles east), Cowes (5 miles north), Sandown (6 miles south-east), Shanklin (7 miles south-east), Ventnor (8 miles south-east) and East Cowes (4 miles north). If you are somewhere remote, the survey takes a little more planning, so mention it when booking.
Around Shide
In Shide, that means homes and buildings near Christ The King College, The Cranbourne Arms Public House and Island Innovation VI Form Campus. Other landmarks nearby include St Mary's Hospital (1.3 miles north) and Carisbrooke Castle (1 mile west). Not far away are Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shide
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. Typical surveys look at blocked or leaking gutters and slipped or missing slates and tiles, across natural slate, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Smaller places like Shide 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. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Shide. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Shide (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Shide
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. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
If you live in an older home near Church of St. John the Baptist, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Will the report include photos?
- What they will not be able to tell you
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Shide
Do you cover smaller places like Shide?
Yes, Shide is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shide?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- When you need the report by
- Anything about access we should know
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The kind of building and roof involved
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask for loft access on the day
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
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. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Shide
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a survey in Shide, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or email us.