Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Shotover Hill
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Shotover Hill. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Shotover Hill
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. Typical surveys look at sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, across natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles.
Around Shotover Hill, you’ll mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. Older roofs may still have their original slates or clay tiles, with fixings and underlay that have done a long stint. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Shotover Hill (OX3)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Shotover Hill
Also in Shotover Hill
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Shotover Hill
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Holywell Manor lies about 2.4 miles west, so building around Shotover Hill goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. If you let a flat or house near Oxford station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. The streets around a church such as Holy Trinity Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Shotover Hill is about 2 miles east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. If you are in Shotover Hill, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Shotover Hill is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in OX3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Old Road, Mark Road and York Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Risinghurst (1 mile north), Barton (1 mile north), Horspath (1 mile south-east), Littleworth (2 miles east) and Forest Hill (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles south-west), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (9 miles east) and Wantage (15 miles south-west).
Around Shotover Hill
Around Shotover Hill, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Cheney School, Headington Quarry Foundation Stage School and Crown & Thistle pub. Nearby too are St Francis Church (0.7 miles south-west) and Stansfeld Park (less than half a mile north-west). Shotover Hill’s nearest station is Oxford station, about 3.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Rumble Museum (1.2 miles west) and Templars Square (1.7 miles south-west). Not far away are Shotover and CS Lewis Nature Reserve.
What you can safely check yourself
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.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. A visit to a smaller place like Shotover Hill is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- 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 viewpoint, 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 we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
FAQs for Shotover Hill
Will you come out to Shotover Hill?
Yes. Shotover Hill is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shotover Hill?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
What affects the price in Shotover Hill
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Which survey package you book
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.