Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Westcott, Surrey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Westcott and across Surrey.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Useful tips for Westcott property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Share the report with your solicitor
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Westcott
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you are worried about slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and blocked or leaking gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Westcott, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. 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, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Westcott (RH4)
- Region
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Westcott
The fixings and underlay frequently fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you own a rental within reach of Dorking West station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
What to check before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
You can learn a lot 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.
Local roofs and buyers in Westcott
The wider area around Westcott has a long history of building, with Polesden Lacey about 2.2 miles north. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Take an older house close to St John's Community Hall: older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Westcott is about 2 miles west of Dorking, in Surrey. In Westcott, as across Surrey, every roof gets the same careful survey. Westcott is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Guildford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RH4. We cover properties on Guildford Road, Chapel Lane and Stones Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Ranmore Common (1 mile north), Wotton (1 mile south-west), Dorking (2 miles east), North Holmwood (2 miles south-east) and Mid Holmwood (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (9 miles west), Woking (11 miles north-west), Epsom (9 miles north-east), Horley (9 miles east), Redhill (9 miles east) and Ewell (10 miles north-east).
What’s near Westcott
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Priory CofE Voluntary Aided School, Milton Heath and The Nower and Pippbrook House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Dorking West station, about 1.4 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Headley Court (6 miles north-east) and Mesolithic Museum (2.4 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Combe Bottom and Box Hill.
Towns and villages near Westcott
Other services in Westcott
How it works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a small place like Westcott, 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 let us know 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets in another room
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
FAQs for Westcott
Do you cover Westcott?
Yes, Westcott is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Westcott?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys