Southampton · London and the South East
Bitterne Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out roof surveys in Bitterne, with photos and a clear written report.
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
Bitterne: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Bitterne?
Frequently, yes. Bitterne is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Is drone flying allowed in Bitterne?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Bitterne is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
What do you check on a roof survey?
Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, along with the loft where it is safe. You get a report with photos and recommendations.
How long does a roof survey take?
Allow between one and two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes, the part you own or can give access to. Next door’s roof is only inspected as far as we can see it. Shared chimneys and party-wall upstands are checked from your side.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Bitterne
Everything we check, we check safely: from the ground, from windows and other vantage points, from inside the loft and from the roof itself where it’s safe. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, which helps with tall or steep roofs. You don’t need to do anything except give us access. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. We survey the roof space, chimney stacks and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are loose chimney pots and worn or blocked valleys.
Around Bitterne, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Bitterne (SO18, SO19)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Clay plain and peg tiles
Older homes in the Weald and across the South East frequently have clay plain tiles, and some have Kent peg tiles held by pegs. When pegs or battens rot, tiles slip.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Lifted, split or slipped lead is recorded, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bitterne
Bitterne lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Bitterne is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. Where the drone is part of the survey, permission from the airport is needed first, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given.
Shop and office owners around Marlands Shopping Centre may find that a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak. Landlords with a home close to Bitterne station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Bitterne is about 1 mile east of Southampton, in Southampton. If you’re in Bitterne, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our Southampton coverage includes Bitterne.
We work across the SO18 and SO19 postcode area for roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Bath Road, Ruby Road and Dean Road or anywhere close by, we can help. You will find Bitterne on the A3024, so it’s easy for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Northam (1 mile west), Bitterne Park (1 mile north-west), Itchen (1 mile south-west), Midanbury (1 mile north) and Harefield (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Shirley (3 miles west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles west), Coxford (4 miles west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west).
Around Bitterne
We work in homes and buildings around Itchen College, Riverside Park and St Mary's Independent School. For rail, the closest station is Bitterne station, about 0.7 miles north-west. A little further out are Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (within half a mile north-west) and Marlands Shopping Centre (2 miles west). For a walk, there is Netley Common.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Being in a smaller place like Bitterne doesn’t change how the visit works: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from the ground, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- We then look in the loft for damp, staining and the condition of the underlay.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What happens if roof problems are left?
Planned work is less stressful than an emergency. With a report, you can tackle the urgent jobs first and plan the rest, rather than calling someone out after a storm. In a smaller place like Bitterne, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing does not stay loose for long. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents and landlords in Bitterne book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Bitterne. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Tips from our surveys
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Let us know about past leaks
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. You can ask us about anything that is not clear.
Plan a roof survey every few years, or sooner after severe weather. Routine surveys pick up wear before it leaks. Each report gives a record to compare against.
Do you need a roof survey in Bitterne?
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while rain gets into every gap. What starts as one slipped slate can become a leak.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
With South Stoneham House about 1.8 miles north-west, the area around Bitterne has a long history. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?