Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Sunningwell Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Sunningwell, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Sunningwell
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Sunningwell
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, while you’re not yet committed. We survey seven days a week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. If you are worried about old water stains in the roof space and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
For a small place like Sunningwell, 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 when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Location
- Sunningwell (OX13)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Sunningwell
Historic houses such as Appleton Manor, about 3.2 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Sunningwell goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Take an older house close to Church of St Leonard: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Sunningwell is about 2 miles north of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Sunningwell, we can come and survey your property. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Sunningwell and the places around it.
Surveys in OX13 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Bullsmead, Dark Lane and Sunningwell Road, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Bayworth (1 mile north-east), Boars Hill (1 mile north), Chilswell (2 miles north), Hinksey Hill (2 miles north-east) and Kennington (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (4 miles north-east), Didcot (7 miles south), Bicester (15 miles north), Witney (11 miles north-west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (14 miles east).
Landmarks near Sunningwell
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Albert Park, Fitzharrys School and The Flowing Well pub, among other places. The closest station to Sunningwell is Radley station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Westgate Shopping Centre (3.6 miles north) and Abingdon Community Hospital (2.2 miles south). The countryside around Sunningwell includes Harcourt Hill and Lashford Lane Fen.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Sunningwell
Do you carry out roof surveys in Sunningwell?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Sunningwell is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
How do I find out if my home in Sunningwell is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It normally takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
Why it is worth a survey now in Sunningwell
Without a survey, you’re relying on a glance from the pavement. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. For older village homes like those around Sunningwell, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Over 20 years’ experience
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Sunningwell
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How the survey works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere as small as Sunningwell, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Useful tips for Sunningwell property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
What affects the price in Sunningwell
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before you book.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Common roof problems in Sunningwell
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If you let a flat or house near Radley station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Their insurance cover