Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Upper Brailes
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings for Upper Brailes, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
How a roof survey works in Upper Brailes
Our roof surveys cover Upper Brailes and the wider South East. We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, and bring 20+ years’ experience. Each survey ends with a written report, emailed with photos and recommendations. Houses, flats and commercial buildings all follow the same careful process. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. If you are worried about gaps in the roof where coverings have gone and cracked or blistered flat roof coverings, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Upper Brailes, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. 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 typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Upper Brailes (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Upper Brailes can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- Coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets in another room
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Signs you need a roof survey in Upper Brailes
Slates and tiles frequently outlast the fixings that hold them. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
If you look after a building such as Brailes CofE Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Places near Upper Brailes
Other services in Upper Brailes
What happens if roof problems are left?
Before you put a home on the market, it helps to know the roof’s condition. You’ll know what a buyer’s survey might pick up. For an older or listed building in a place like Upper Brailes, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Prices that include VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Photos and a written report every time
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Roof surveys in Upper Brailes: local notes
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
The streets around a church such as Church of St George are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Upper Brailes is about 9 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. We provide roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Upper Brailes. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Every address in OX15 is within our area for roof surveys. We cover properties on Castle Hill, Fant Hill and Henbrook Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Brailes (1 mile south-east) and Sutton-under-Brailes (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Banbury (9 miles east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south), Neithrop (8 miles east), Grimsbury (10 miles east), Ruscote (8 miles east) and Bloxham (8 miles east).
Around Upper Brailes
We work in homes and buildings around The Gate Inn and the streets around them. A little further out are Ellen Badger Hospital (2.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Castle Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
Your questions about roof surveys in Upper Brailes
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upper Brailes?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s 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.
Is Upper Brailes in the area you cover?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Upper Brailes is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you check the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. Our report notes any materials that might, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
How long does a roof survey take?
Allow about 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
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 are a CAA-registered drone operator.