Portsmouth · London and the South East
Roof survey Portsmouth
Independent roof surveys across Portsmouth and Southsea, from tightly packed terraces to seafront flats, shops and flat-roofed blocks.
- Reports from £150 including VAT
- Drones and thermal imaging
- 20+ years’ experience
Roof surveys in Portsmouth
We survey roofs across Portsmouth, on Portsea Island and on the mainland, for buyers, homeowners, landlords and managing agents. Most of the city sits on an island, closely built up and open to the sea on several sides, so roofs here face wind and salt air as a matter of course. Our roof survey looks at the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the roof space where it can be reached safely.
Buying? A pre-purchase roof survey booked after your offer is accepted gives you time to raise what we find with the seller. Leaking? Our roof leak investigation traces where the water is getting in, which is often not directly above the stain.
Terraced streets on a crowded island
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated places in the UK, and much of that is down to its long streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses in areas such as Southsea and Fratton. These roofs are usually slate or clay tile, with shared chimney stacks, party walls, rear additions and, in many cases, dormers or loft conversions added later. When houses sit this close together, a fault on one roof can affect the neighbours, and a valley or gutter shared between two homes is easily forgotten.
Portsmouth was heavily bombed in the Second World War, and post-war rebuilding added council flats, maisonettes and houses with concrete tiles and flat roofs. There are also larger Victorian villas, some converted into flats, and newer developments around the city. Our guides to slipped slates and chimney stack defects cover the problems older terraces see most.
Salt air, wind and older buildings
Because so much of Portsmouth is close to the sea, roofs get more wind and salt than those inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings, flashings and the nails holding slates, and strong wind finds loose ridge pieces and slipped tiles. Our guide to coastal roofs explains what to check more often, and after a gale our storm damage roof report records the damage for your insurer.
The city has conservation areas and many listed buildings, especially around Old Portsmouth and the historic dockyard. Re-roofing in a different material may need permission, so check with the council first. Before any drone flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions, and the wind on the day often decides whether a flight is safe near the seafront.
Tight terraced streets and controlled parking in parts of the city mean it helps to tell us about parking and access when you book. If the loft hatch is in a cupboard or bedroom, clearing a path to it saves time, and telling us about known leaks or past repairs helps us look in the right places.
Shops, offices and blocks of flats
Shops with flats above, offices, industrial units and purpose-built blocks of flats across Portsmouth commonly have flat roofs. Our flat roof survey checks the membrane, upstands, outlets and rooflights, and looks for ponding, splits and blistering. Where a flat roof leaks and the cause can’t be seen, electronic leak detection may help find it.
Landlords, letting agents and residents’ management companies use our landlord roof survey to get a clear written record of shared roofs before planning work.
How it works
- Get in touch. Call 07833 053749 or email us with the address, the type of roof and what you’re worried about.
- Choose a survey. We’ll suggest the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the roof, with the price including VAT.
- The visit. We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground and vantage points, inside the roof space, and by drone where applicable.
- Your report. A written report with photographs and recommendations: within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard, same day for Premium.
- Next steps. Use the report to brief roofers, ask the seller questions or plan maintenance.
Our services in Portsmouth
- Pre-purchase roof survey (from £150): Before you exchange: the roof’s condition, defects and what to raise with the seller, in a written report with photos.
- Roof survey (from £150): A full look at coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the roof space, with written recommendations.
- Roof leak investigation (from £150): Tracing where water is getting in, using moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help.
- Drone roof survey (from £400): Close-up photos of roofs that are tall, steep or hard to reach, flown by a CAA-registered operator with airspace checked first.
- Flat roof survey (from £150): Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply roofs on extensions, garages, flats, offices and units.
- Thermal imaging roof survey (from £400): Thermal images that can point to trapped moisture or missing insulation, checked against moisture readings.
- Chimney survey (from £150): Stacks, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, including leaning and redundant stacks.
- Storm damage roof report (from £150): An independent record of storm damage, with photos, for you to give your insurer.
- Gutter survey (from £150): Gutters, valleys, parapet and box gutters, outlets and downpipes, and why they overflow.
- Landlord roof survey (from £150): Roof condition reports for landlords, managing agents and freeholders, to plan maintenance.
- New roof snagging (from £150): A check of a new or replacement roof for snags before you make the final payment.
- Electronic leak detection (quoted for your roof): Electronic testing to pinpoint holes in flat roof membranes.
Why Independent Roof Survey in Portsmouth
We have more than 20 years’ experience, 5,000+ completed surveys and 98% customer satisfaction. We use drones and thermal imaging where they help, and we’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Surveys take place on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with reports within 48 hours (Basic), in 24–48 hours (Standard) or the same day (Premium).
Around Portsmouth
From the centre, the nearest railway station is Fratton station. Well-known places nearby include Tricorn Centre (0.7 miles south-west), Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west) and Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (less than half a mile west). Around the centre, we survey roofs on homes, rented flats and businesses close to Manor Infant School, The Portsmouth Academy, St Edmund's Catholic School and St Wilfrid. Green spaces within reach include Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
Prices
All prices include VAT. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof.
Basic Survey
from £150
Including VAT · report within 48 hours
- Visual inspection
- Basic condition report
- Photographs
- Written recommendations
- Report emailed to you
Standard Survey
from £250
Including VAT · report in 24–48 hours
- Comprehensive inspection
- Detailed report with photographs
- Moisture detection
- Structural check
- Report in 24–48 hours
- Follow-up consultation
Premium Survey
from £400
Including VAT · same-day report
- Full inspection
- Thermal imaging
- Drone inspection where applicable
- Structural analysis
- Same-day report
- In-person consultation
- 12-month follow-up review
Areas we cover in Portsmouth
Pick your area for local details, or call 07833 053749 or email us with the address.
- Alverstoke
- Baffins
- Bedhampton
- Bridgemary
- Clayhall
- Copnor
- Cosham
- Drayton
- Elson
- Farlington
- Forton
- Fratton
- Gosport
- Haslar
- Hilsea
- Kingston
- Landport
- Langstone
- Milton
- North End
- Paulsgrove
- Portchester
- Portsea
- Portsmouth Point
- Priddy's Hard
- Privett
- Purbrook
- Rowner
- Rudmore
- South Hayling
- Southsea
- Southwick
- Stoke
- Tipner
- West Town
- Widley
- Wymering
Towns near Portsmouth
Questions from Portsmouth
Do you cover Southsea and the rest of Portsea Island?
Yes. We survey roofs across Portsmouth, including Southsea, the rest of Portsea Island and the mainland parts of the city.
Why do terraced roofs in Portsmouth need checking?
Older terraces often have slate or clay tiles, shared chimneys and shared gutters. Fixings age, slates slip and flashings fail, and sea air can speed up corrosion of metal parts.
Can you check the roof of a converted flat?
Yes. We inspect what can be seen safely, including the roof space where there is access. Shared roofs are usually covered by the lease, so check who is responsible.
Will you use a drone?
Where it is allowed, safe and useful. We check the Drone Safety Map first, and strong wind or rain can stop a flight.
Is your survey the same as a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building and not a structural engineer’s report.
When can you visit?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How much does a roof survey cost?
Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. Larger commercial roofs are quoted.
Can you survey a roof I share with my neighbour?
We can inspect what the owner gives us access to. If a shared roof or chimney is involved, speak to your neighbour first, and we take care over privacy when using a drone.