Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Shorwell
A careful look at the roof at your property in Shorwell, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Shorwell
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. 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 are buying. Common reasons to book are gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and old water stains in the roof space, on gutters and downpipes, chimney stacks and natural slate.
Being in a small place like Shorwell makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Shorwell (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Without a survey, you are relying on a glance from the pavement. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. For older village homes like those around Shorwell, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What you get with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Nearby places to Shorwell
What else we do in Shorwell
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually 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. Somewhere like Shorwell needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Common questions in Shorwell
Is the coastal weather around Shorwell hard on roofs?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Shorwell is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Will you come out to Shorwell?
Yes. Shorwell is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Buying a home or a new roof in Shorwell
Shorwell lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Historic houses such as Northcourt Manor, about 0.3 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Shorwell goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Shorwell is about 5 miles south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Shorwell is one of many places we visit across the Isle of Wight, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across the Isle of Wight, we cover Shorwell and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO30 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Fine Lane, Orchards Way and Farriers Way and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Shorwell: Thorncross (1 mile south-west), Little Atherfield (2 miles south), Moortown (2 miles west), Brighstone (2 miles west) and Chillerton (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Newport (5 miles north-east), Ryde (10 miles north-east), Cowes (8 miles north), Sandown (9 miles east), Shanklin (8 miles east) and Ventnor (7 miles south-east). If you’re somewhere remote, a little more planning is needed, so mention it when you book.
What’s near Shorwell
We work in homes and buildings around The Crown Inn and the streets around them. A little further out are Carisbrooke Castle (3.6 miles north-east) and Whitecroft Hospital (3.1 miles north-east). Not far away are Brighstone Down.
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Roof area
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
We’ll usually ask about:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Shorwell, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Common roof problems in Shorwell
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Problems we come across often include:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Take an older house close to St. Peter's Church: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before you book anyone
- Their report turnaround times
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether you get a written report with photos
Landlord and commercial surveys in Shorwell
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.