Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in The Frenches
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in The Frenches, with photos and a written report.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit normally takes about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a small place like The Frenches, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in The Frenches, ring 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in The Frenches: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations. If you’ve noticed quick fixes on flashings and valleys and worn or lifted lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like The Frenches 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’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- The Frenches (SO51)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near The Frenches
What else we do in The Frenches
When to book a survey in The Frenches
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Questions to ask before you book
- How soon the report will arrive
- What experience they bring
- Their insurance cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Let us know your timetable
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
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.
Buying a home or a new roof in The Frenches
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For landlords with property near Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. With Mottisfont Abbey about 3.1 miles north, the area around The Frenches has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
The Frenches is about 3 miles west of Romsey, in Hampshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in The Frenches and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Southampton page covers surveys nearby.
All of SO51 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you’re just outside The Frenches, we cover Shootash (1 mile east), Plaitford Green (2 miles west), West Wellow (2 miles south-west), East Wellow (2 miles south) and Blackhill (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Andover (15 miles north), Totton (6 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
What’s near The Frenches
The closest station to The Frenches is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, about 2.5 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find King Johns House (2.7 miles east) and Romsey Community Hospital (3.4 miles east). Not far away are Copythorne Common.
Why act early in The Frenches
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but with far less room to act on them. Outbuildings and barns around The Frenches are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why us?
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- PI and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
The Frenches questions
Will you come out to The Frenches?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you cover The Frenches?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and The Frenches is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
Do you need access inside the house?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. 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 isn’t right.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
How do I book a survey in The Frenches?
Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.