Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Summertown Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Summertown, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Summertown
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and lead flashings and valleys, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
Houses in smaller places like Summertown can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather normally shows first. Whether you are buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a proper look. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof does not stay small for long.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Summertown (OX2, OX3)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Being in a smaller place like Summertown does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- 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.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Summertown questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Summertown?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover Summertown?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Summertown is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
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.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
What affects the price in Summertown
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- House, block, shop or office
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Common roof problems in Summertown
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It is often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Landlords with a home close to Oxford station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What insurance they carry
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- When you will get the report
Places near Summertown
Also in Summertown
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Summertown
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Holywell Manor, about 1.7 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Summertown goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Michael and All Angels are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Summertown is about 2 miles north-west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Summertown is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and the South East. Summertown is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work.
Surveys in OX2 and OX3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Islip Road, Hobson Road and Hernes Road. Main roads around Summertown include the A4165, so getting to you is simple. If you’re just outside Summertown, we cover North Oxford (1 mile south), Sunnymead (1 mile north), Cutteslowe (1 mile north), Park Town (1 mile south) and Norham Manor (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Didcot (12 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south), Witney (10 miles west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in Summertown
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Oxford Academy, Oxford University Parks and Cutteslowe Primary School. Nearby too are St Hugh's College Main Building Including Library (0.8 miles south) and Dew Drop Inn (less than half a mile south-east). The nearest railway station is Oxford station, about 1.7 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Clarendon Shopping Centre (1.8 miles south) and Oxford University Museum of Natural History (1.4 miles south). Open spaces near Summertown include Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds and Headington Hill.
Why get it checked now?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. Around Summertown, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 98% of customers satisfied
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Useful tips for Summertown property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.