Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Woking
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Woking and across Surrey.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Blocked or leaking gutters
What we do, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In busier parts of Woking, parking can be tight, so tell us about driveways, permits or nearby car parks. On the day, we look at the roof from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
How to book
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 phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
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Pre-purchase roof survey in Woking
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. Common reasons to book are ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, across flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles.
A place the size of Woking has homes of every age, from older terraces and villas to post-war estates and recent developments. A roof on a Victorian house fails in different ways from one on a 1960s semi or a new build. That is why the age and type of roof shape what the inspection concentrates on, for a purchase or a new roof alike.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Woking (GU21, GU22, GU24, GU3)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Woking: local notes
In Surrey, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, with tile-hanging on many upper walls. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. The wider area around Woking has a long history of building, with Botleys Mansion about 4.3 miles north-east. 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.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary of Bethany, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Woking is about 24 miles south-west of London, in Surrey. From houses to flats and shops in Woking, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Surrey.
We work across the GU21, GU22, GU24 and GU3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include High Street, Market Walk and Gloucester Square, all of which we cover. With the A247 and A320 close by, Woking is simple for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Goldsworth Park (1 mile west), St John's (1 mile west), Horsell (1 mile north-east), Westfield (1 mile south-east) and Mimbridge (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (5 miles south), Camberley (7 miles west), Epsom (13 miles east), Farnham (12 miles south-west), Ewell (14 miles east) and Egham (8 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Surrey, Woking has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
What’s near Woking
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Red Lion pub, Woking High School and Hoe Valley Linear Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Woking station, roughly 0.7 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find The Peacocks (0.6 miles east) and The Hockey Museum (0.7 miles east). Open spaces near Woking include Brookwood Lye.
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
FAQs for Woking
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Woking?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Woking is about 3 miles from Fairoaks Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Do you cover Woking?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Woking is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
When to book a survey in Woking
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
Common reasons to book include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blocked or leaking gutters
If you own a rental within reach of Woking station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before you book anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Their insurance cover
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
More services for Woking
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.