Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Fern
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Fern, with photographs and a written report.
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
About our roof survey in Fern
People book a roof survey for all sorts of reasons. Some have spotted a stain or a slipped slate, while others just want to know where they stand. Whatever the reason, the survey works the same way: we inspect carefully and explain what we see in writing. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, so finding a time is rarely difficult. We are frequently asked to look into crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and flashings that have come away from the wall, on ridges, hips and valleys, natural slate and lead flashings.
Somewhere as small as Fern, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Fern (SL7)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Check we can open the loft hatch
- Mention any damp patches as you book
Keep the report with your property records. It’s a useful baseline for future surveys, and buyers may ask about the roof when you sell.
Have gutters and valleys cleared regularly, ideally after the leaves have fallen. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Clear gutters prevent a lot of damp.
Local roofs in Fern
About 2.7 miles south-east lies Cliveden, a reminder of how long the area around Fern has been built on. 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. Some villages in Buckinghamshire 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St John the Baptist, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. For landlords with property near Bourne End station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you look after a building such as Little Marlow CofE School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Fern is about 2 miles north-east of Marlow, in Buckinghamshire. From houses to flats and shops in Fern, we can survey the roof. Our Buckinghamshire coverage includes Fern. Reading is in our area too.
Every address in SL7 is covered for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Close by, we survey roofs in Coldmoorholme (1 mile south-east), Little Marlow (1 mile south-west), Well End (1 mile south-east), Bourne End (1 mile south-east) and Flackwell Heath (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include High Wycombe (3 miles north), Chesham (10 miles north-east), Amersham (8 miles north-east), Beaconsfield (4 miles east), Chalfont St Peter (8 miles east) and Southcourt (15 miles north).
What’s near Fern
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bourne End Academy and The Black Lion pub. The nearest railway station is Bourne End station, roughly 1.1 miles south-east. A little further out are High Wycombe Castle (3.1 miles north) and Chiltern Sound Phonograph Museum (2.3 miles south-west). The countryside around Fern includes Warren Nature Reserve.
Different roofs, different checks
Concrete interlocking tiles
On low-pitched roofs, the laps and fixings of interlocking tiles matter. Lifted or cracked tiles are noted.
Lead flashings and valleys
Most leaks begin at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. That is why we check them closely.
Prices for roof surveys in Fern
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Height and safe access
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. You will know the exact price before booking.
Booking your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Anything about access we should know
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Nearby places to Fern
What else we do in Fern
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
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 when budgeting.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Fern can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- We look at the roof from each safe vantage point outside.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Fern questions
I let a flat near Bourne End station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fern?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you survey a roof I share with a neighbour?
Yes. We survey the parts of the roof you have access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
What do you check on a roof survey?
All the main parts of the roof: coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check, and Premium adds thermal imaging and a drone where it applies.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.