Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Lawrence, Isle of Wight
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in St Lawrence. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Why it’s worth a survey now in St Lawrence
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit seven days a week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Around St Lawrence, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT.
Why us?
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Lawrence
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed blocked or leaking gutters and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
For a small place like St Lawrence, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Location
- St Lawrence (PO38)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about one to two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere as small as St Lawrence, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in St Lawrence, ring 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Roof area
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
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 wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
FAQs for St Lawrence
Does a conservation area affect roof work in St Lawrence?
We can’t 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.
Is the coastal weather around St Lawrence hard on roofs?
Frequently, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as St Lawrence is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
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.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
More services for St Lawrence
Landlords, agents and block managers in St Lawrence
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in St Lawrence. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around St Lawrence
St Lawrence lies within about 1 mile 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 a downpour. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Historic houses such as Rylstone Manor, about 3.8 miles north-east, show how far back building around St Lawrence goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. Landlords with a home close to Shanklin station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. For an older house near a landmark like St Lawrence's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
St Lawrence is about 4 miles south-west of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. Bookings from St Lawrence are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across the Isle of Wight, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Every address in PO38 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Twining Road, Whitwell Road and Woolverton Road, all of which we cover. We also cover Steephill (1 mile east), Nettlecombe (1 mile north-west), Whitwell (1 mile north-west), Ventnor (1 mile east) and Bierley (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Newport (8 miles north), Ryde (10 miles north), Cowes (12 miles north), Sandown (6 miles north-east), Shanklin (4 miles north-east) and East Cowes (12 miles north). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so let us know where you are when you book.
Landmarks near St Lawrence
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Catherine's School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Shanklin station, roughly 4.1 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (4.1 miles north-east) and Longshoremans Museum (1.3 miles east). Open spaces near St Lawrence include Stenbury Down.