Surrey · London and the South East
Roof survey in Dorking, Surrey
A careful look at the roof at your property in Dorking, with photographs and a written report.
- Loose chimney pots
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
About our roof survey in Dorking
Across London and the South East, roofs differ widely. If your home is a Victorian terrace, it may have Welsh slate, a butterfly roof and parapet gutters, while many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles. Whatever yours has, the survey is adapted to it. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Each part is checked in the way that suits it. We survey ridges, hips and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and flat roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are blocked, sagging or leaking gutters and worn lead at chimneys and abutments.
Most homes in a town like Dorking are houses, so the roof is typically the owner’s to look after. Small faults, like a cracked ridge, a slipped tile or a blocked gutter, are cheaper to deal with early. A roof report gives you a list of what needs doing and how soon. Photos show you exactly what was seen, even on parts you can’t reach yourself.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Dorking (RH4, RH5)
- Region
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Most visits in a town like Dorking start at the front of the house and work round to the back. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen. Then, if it can be reached safely, we look in the loft.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
What we cannot see
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- A full building survey of the property
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
What a roof survey looks like in Dorking
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Historic houses such as Polesden Lacey, about 2.7 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Dorking goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like St Paul's CofE (Aided) Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. Living close to Deepdene Terrace is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn. Landlords with a home close to Dorking Deepdene station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Dorking is about 10 miles north-west of Crawley, in Surrey. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Dorking can all book roof surveys. Dorking is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work. Crawley is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof surveys: RH4 and RH5. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Station Road and London Road. With the A24 and A25 close by, Dorking is easy for us to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Pixham (1 mile north-east), North Holmwood (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north), Westcott (2 miles west) and Blackbrook (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north), Horley (8 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north).
Local landmarks in Dorking
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Wheatsheaf Public House, The Ashcombe School and Deepdene Terrace. Also close by are The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north) and Pippbrook House (0.5 miles north). Dorking’s nearest station is Dorking Deepdene station, roughly 0.6 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Mesolithic Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Headley Court (4.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Include dormers, porches and garages when you book
- Don’t climb onto the roof yourself
- Check we can open the loft hatch
- Let us know about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see whether anything has changed, and whether work has done its job.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and daylight through the roof. Take photos of anything that changes.
Places near Dorking
What else we do in Dorking
Dorking: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Dorking?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Dorking is part of that. 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 Dorking?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
How long will you be at the property?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
How do I arrange a roof survey in Dorking?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we’ll suggest the right survey. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. If we see signs that need an engineer, such as serious sagging, we’ll say so. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t give a number of years. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it’s wearing, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Getting in touch
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.