Hampshire · London and the South East
Test Valley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Test Valley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Common roof problems in Test Valley
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. We check them as part of the survey.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
The streets around a church such as Church of St James are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Pre-purchase roof survey in Test Valley: what you get
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We survey clay and concrete tiles, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate, and the problems we are asked to look at most are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
Older buildings in small places like Test Valley may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Where
- Test Valley (SP11)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Test Valley
Also in Test Valley
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Test Valley can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Test Valley
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. About 2.7 miles north lies Stargroves, a reminder of how long the area around Test Valley has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Test Valley is about 7 miles north of Andover, in Hampshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Test Valley and the surrounding area. Our Hampshire coverage includes Test Valley. You can also see our page for Reading.
We work across the SP11 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover Ashmansworth (1 mile east), Vernham Street (3 miles west), Upper Green (4 miles north), Inkpen Common (5 miles north) and Hell Corner (5 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Basingstoke (15 miles east), Andover (7 miles south), Tadley (13 miles east), Popley (15 miles east), Tidworth (11 miles south-west) and Kempshott (13 miles east).
Around Test Valley
For a walk, there is Pilot Hill.
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Useful tips for Test Valley property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A structural engineer’s report
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Natural slate
Test Valley questions
Is Test Valley within the area you cover?
Yes. Test Valley is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Test Valley?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Test Valley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow about one to two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
What you can safely check yourself
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.