Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Helens, Isle of Wight
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in St Helens, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in St Helens
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’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. We are often asked to look into signs of past leaks inside the loft and chimney mortar that has eroded, on natural slate, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
In a village or hamlet like St Helens, 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. 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.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- St Helens (PO33)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Common roof problems in St Helens
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which matters if work is needed.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
If you let a flat or house near Brading station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their track record with similar roofs
The survey, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a hamlet or village like St Helens, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- 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.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in St Helens
St Helens lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Some villages on the Isle of Wight still have thatched roofs, and the whole island is open to sea air and wind. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Yaverland Manor lies about 2.1 miles south-west, so building around St Helens 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 live in an older home near St Catherine-by-the-Green, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
St Helens is about 3 miles south-east of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. Wherever you are in St Helens, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across the Isle of Wight, we cover St Helens and the places around it. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO33. Local streets include Station Road, Upper Green Road and Old Chapel Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around St Helens: Gaskins (1 mile south-west), Brading (2 miles south-west), Yarbridge (2 miles south-west), Morton (2 miles south-west) and Yaverland (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (8 miles west), Ryde (3 miles north-west), Cowes (9 miles north-west), Sandown (4 miles south-west), Shanklin (5 miles south-west) and Ventnor (8 miles south-west). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you book.
What’s near St Helens
In St Helens, that means homes and buildings near The Vine Inn. For rail, the closest station is Brading station, roughly 1.8 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Cothey Bottom Heritage Centre (1.5 miles north-west) and Sandown Castle (3.2 miles south-west). The countryside around St Helens includes Alan Hersey Nature Reserve and Bembridge Down.
St Helens questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around St Helens, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and St Helens is within about 2 miles of the coast.
Will you come out to St Helens?
Yes. St Helens is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when booking.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
How do I book a survey in St Helens?
Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
More services for St Helens
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.