Greater London · London and the South East
Oval Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Oval, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Loose chimney pots
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Mention any damp patches when you book
- Check we can open the loft hatch
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
Where it helps, we say which items are urgent. Some faults need dealing with soon, while others can wait for planned work. That helps you decide what to do first.
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.
How a roof survey works in Oval
There is no single reason to have a roof surveyed. Some have seen a mark on a ceiling or bits of tile in the garden, while others just want to know where they stand. Whatever the reason, the survey works the same way: a careful look, then a clear written report. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, so finding a time is rarely difficult. We’re frequently asked to look into gaps in the roof where coverings have gone and flashings that have come away from the wall, across the roof space, ridges, hips and valleys and chimney stacks.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters, in Oval as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photos.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Oval (SW8, SW9, SW1P)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Oval
Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Buckingham Palace, about 1.7 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Oval goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take a building like St Stephen's Church of England Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. For an older house near a landmark such as Calvary Church of God in Christ, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you own a rental within reach of Vauxhall station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Oval is about 1 mile north of Stockwell, in Greater London. In Oval, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small.
All of SW8, SW9 and SW1P is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Lett Road, Rita Road and Wyvil Road, all of which we cover. You’ll find Oval on the A203 and A3204, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Kennington (1 mile north), South Lambeth (1 mile south-west), Little Portugal (1 mile south), North Brixton (1 mile south-east) and Vauxhall (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover City of Westminster (3 miles north-west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (4 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles north), Shoreditch (4 miles north-east) and Walthamstow (8 miles north-east).
Near you in Oval
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Vauxhall Park, Lambeth Palace Library and St Peter's School. You will also find Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School (within half a mile north-east) and Crown and Thistle pub (within half a mile south-west). Oval has its own railway station: Vauxhall station. Other landmarks nearby include Type Museum (0.5 miles south) and The Gordon Hospital (1 mile north-west). For a walk, there’s Bellenden Road Nature Garden and Ludgate Hill.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. Most surveys take between one and two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. In a London area like Oval, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Read more
Why it’s worth a survey now in Oval
Planned work is less stressful than an emergency. With a report, you can tackle the urgent jobs first and plan the rest, rather than waiting for something to fail. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so a slipped slate can soon mean water inside. Left alone, that means wet timbers and plaster, which is a far bigger job than the roof fault itself.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Visits on any day of the week
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Your questions about roof surveys in Oval
Can a landlord with a rental near Vauxhall station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Oval?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey looks at the condition of the roof, and the Standard and Premium packages include a structural check. It doesn’t include structural calculations, which need an engineer.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe to do so. We also inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
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. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
How do I book a survey in Oval?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT.
Also in Oval
What we cannot see
It helps to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- A structural engineer’s report
- The condition of the rest of the building (that’s a RICS home survey)
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If a specialist is needed, we’ll say so.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Cracks in a lead valley can send water into the roof.