Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof survey in Merton, Oxfordshire
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings across Merton, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
About our roof survey in Merton
Many homes have several roofs, not just one. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages often have flat roofs in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. A flat roof usually wears out sooner than a pitched one, so they deserve a careful look. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber can last 30 to 50. If you’ve noticed lifted, split or missing lead flashings and leaking gutter joints and downpipes, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, natural slate and chimney stacks alike.
In a village or hamlet like Merton, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Merton (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Rural addresses near Merton can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Merton
The wider area around Merton has a long history of building, with Boarstall Tower about 3.7 miles south-east. Older homes in the wider area frequently 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. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Bicester Avenue, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. The streets around a church like Church of St Swithin are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Bicester Village station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Merton is about 3 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Surveys in Merton work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX25 is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you are just outside Merton, we cover Fencott (1 mile south), Murcott (1 mile south-east), Charlton-on-Otmoor (1 mile south-west), Wendlebury (2 miles north-west) and Lower Arncott (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (8 miles south), Bicester (3 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles south), Witney (15 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Merton
We work in homes and buildings around The Old Plough pub. The nearest railway station is Bicester Village station, about 2.7 miles north of the centre. Nearby you will also find Bicester Community Hospital (2.9 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (2.3 miles north). The countryside around Merton includes Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Mention any damp patches as you book
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. The photos show what we found and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles or pieces in the garden are signs something has moved. Prompt repairs stop small problems growing.
Also in Merton
What affects the price in Merton
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What’s prompted the survey
- The address and postcode of the property
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Different roofs, different checks
Concrete interlocking tiles
Mortar at ridges and verges often cracks on tiled roofs. Loose ridges and gaps in the mortar are recorded, as wind can lift them.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We will tell you if the flue needs a specialist.
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- The condition of the rest of the building (that is a RICS home survey)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Ridges, hips and valleys
Merton questions
Do you cover smaller places like Merton?
Yes. Merton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
I let a flat near Bicester Village station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Photos are included.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
Not as an exact number, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.