Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Steeple Barton, Oxfordshire
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Steeple Barton. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- A ridge or slope that dips
FAQs for Steeple Barton
Do you cover smaller places like Steeple Barton?
Yes, Steeple Barton is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Steeple Barton listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Will you need to get into the loft?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
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’ll talk about access when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
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.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Steeple Barton
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. Common reasons to book are a ridge or slope that dips and loose pots and cracked flaunching, on chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate.
For a small place like Steeple Barton, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Steeple Barton (OX25)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The size of the roof
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to let us know when you get in touch
We will usually ask about:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Places near Steeple Barton
What else we do in Steeple Barton
When to book a survey in Steeple Barton
Viewings rarely include a proper look at 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.
People normally book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Will the report include photos?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Steeple Barton
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Landlords with a home close to Heyford station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Steeple Barton is about 8 miles west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Steeple Barton, we can come and survey your property. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Steeple Barton and the places around it. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX25 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Middle Barton (1 mile north-west), Westcott Barton (1 mile west), Steeple Aston (2 miles east), Middle Aston (2 miles north-east) and Duns Tew (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Oxford (13 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north), Bicester (8 miles east), Witney (11 miles south-west), Carterton (15 miles south-west) and Kidlington (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in Steeple Barton
In Steeple Barton, that means homes and buildings near Holt Hotel (Oxfordshire). The nearest railway station is Heyford station, about 2 miles east. Nearby you will also find Deddington Castle (4.2 miles north).
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Steeple Barton can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- 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’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.