Hampshire · London and the South East
Sprat's Down Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Sprat's Down and the rest of Hampshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Sprat's Down
We survey roofs for buyers in Sprat's Down and across London and South East England. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us. If you are worried about patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and old water stains in the roof space, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
In a village or hamlet like Sprat's Down, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Sprat's Down (SO45)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Book once your offer is accepted
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, especially where we have found patch repairs.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Other services in Sprat's Down
What happens on the day
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older roofs in small places like Sprat's Down can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about parking before the day
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
What we’re asked to look at in Sprat's Down
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
If you live in an older home near St George, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the price includes VAT
Why it is worth a survey now in Sprat's Down
Plenty of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why us?
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we look at each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
It is useful to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Sprat's Down
Sprat's Down is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Beaulieu Palace House, about 4.7 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Sprat's Down. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you own a rental within reach of Hamble station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Sprat's Down is about 4 miles north of Cowes, in Hampshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Sprat's Down and the surrounding area. Sprat's Down is one of the places in Hampshire where we work. Our Southampton page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the SO45 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover the places around Sprat's Down: Calshot (1 mile east), Stonehills (1 mile north), Stanswood (1 mile south), Hillhead (1 mile east) and Ashlett (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (8 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north), Fareham (7 miles north-east), Totton (10 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north) and Hedge End (7 miles north).
Around Sprat's Down
In Sprat's Down, that means homes and buildings near Falcon Hotel and the streets around them. The closest station to Sprat's Down is Hamble station, about 4 miles north of the centre. Nearby you will also find Calshot Castle (1.6 miles east) and Sir Max Aitken Museum (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Sprat's Down includes Mercury Marshes and Mill Hill.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Sprat's Down
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Sprat's Down?
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.
Will you come out to Sprat's Down?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically 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. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.