Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Sutton-under-Brailes
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Sutton-under-Brailes.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Sutton-under-Brailes
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Around Sutton-under-Brailes, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Sutton-under-Brailes is about 9 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Sutton-under-Brailes are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Sutton-under-Brailes. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: OX15. Other places close to Sutton-under-Brailes include Lower Brailes (1 mile north-east) and Upper Brailes (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Banbury (9 miles east), Chipping Norton (7 miles south), Neithrop (9 miles east), Grimsbury (10 miles east), Ruscote (9 miles east) and Bloxham (8 miles east).
Near you in Sutton-under-Brailes
We work in homes and buildings around Cherington Arms Public House. A little further out are Wheelbarrow Castle (4.5 miles south-west) and Ellen Badger Hospital (3.4 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Castle Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Sutton-under-Brailes
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, while you’re not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey gutters and downpipes, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
In a village or hamlet like Sutton-under-Brailes, 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.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Sutton-under-Brailes (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Sutton-under-Brailes can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
What this survey cannot tell you
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Sutton-under-Brailes
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It is often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Take an older house close to St Thomas a Becket Church: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What experience they bring
- Are they insured for the work?
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Sutton-under-Brailes
Do you cover Sutton-under-Brailes?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Sutton-under-Brailes as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Sutton-under-Brailes is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Sutton-under-Brailes?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Will you climb onto 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. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Nearby places to Sutton-under-Brailes
More services for Sutton-under-Brailes
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
What affects the price in Sutton-under-Brailes
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Sutton-under-Brailes, ring 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.