Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Skinner's Hill Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Skinner's Hill, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Skinner's Hill
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We are frequently asked to look into worn or lifted lead flashings and slipped or missing slates and tiles, across lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and gutters and downpipes.
For a small place like Skinner's Hill, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Skinner's Hill (PO36)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Skinner's Hill
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Skinner's Hill?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Skinner's Hill?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Sandown Airport is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Skinner's Hill?
Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Places near Skinner's Hill
More services for Skinner's Hill
Checking the roof from ground level
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Skinner's Hill
Skinner's Hill lies within about 2 miles of the sea, 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 heavy rain. Skinner's Hill is about 2 miles from Sandown Airport. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints' Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. With Haseley Manor about 1.2 miles west, the area around Skinner's Hill has a long history. 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. Landlords with a home close to Sandown station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Skinner's Hill is about 5 miles south of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Skinner's Hill and nearby. Skinner's Hill is one of the towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO36. You will find streets like Skinner's Hill and Hill Top. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Queen's Bower (1 mile south-east), Alverstone Garden Village (1 mile north-east), Alverstone (1 mile east), Lake (2 miles south-east) and Sandown (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Newport (5 miles north-west), Ryde (5 miles north), Cowes (8 miles north-west), Ventnor (5 miles south), East Cowes (7 miles north-west) and Oakfield (4 miles north-east). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so please mention your location when you ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What’s near Skinner's Hill
Typical jobs here are in homes near Sandown Bay Academy and The Pointer Inn. The closest station to Skinner's Hill is Sandown station, about 1.7 miles east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (2 miles south-east) and Sandown Castle (2.3 miles east). Not far away are Alverstone Mead and Brading Down.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a small place like Skinner's Hill, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Skinner's Hill
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof.
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers