Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Spelsbury, Oxfordshire
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Spelsbury.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Spelsbury
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 close look at it before you are committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. We are often asked to look into roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on the roof space, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys.
In a village or hamlet like Spelsbury, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Spelsbury (OX7)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Spelsbury questions
Do you cover smaller places like Spelsbury?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is my home in Spelsbury listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Common roof problems in Spelsbury
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What follow-up you get after the report
Landlord and commercial surveys in Spelsbury
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What else we do in Spelsbury
Spelsbury homes and their roofs
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Charlbury station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Spelsbury is about 7 miles north of Witney, in Oxfordshire. We visit Spelsbury as part of our work across Oxfordshire, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Here we cover the OX7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Quickset Close and Chadlington Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Spelsbury include Charlbury (2 miles south-east), Fawler (3 miles south-east), Finstock (4 miles south), Stonesfield (4 miles south-east) and Ramsden (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Oxford (15 miles south-east), Banbury (13 miles north-east), Bicester (14 miles east), Witney (7 miles south), Carterton (10 miles south-west) and Kidlington (10 miles south-east).
Around Spelsbury
The closest station to Spelsbury is Charlbury station, about 1.5 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Chipping Norton Museum (3.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Spelsbury include Blenheim Farm.
How the survey works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Spelsbury, the journey is planned beforehand: 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’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets in another room
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.