Surrey · London and the South East
Merle Common Storm Damage Roof Report
An independent record of roof damage after a storm in Merle Common, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Slates and tiles blown off the roof
- Lifted or missing ridge and hip tiles
- Loose or broken chimney pots and cowls
Storm damage roof report in Merle Common: what you get
Wear and tear is normally excluded from home insurance. That makes the difference between storm damage and old wear important. Our report records both: recent damage alongside any older defects, like nail fatigue on slates or eroded pointing. We give an honest view of what we see. Your insurer then decides how its policy applies. Typical surveys look at slates and tiles blown off the roof and broken or displaced guttering, on ridges and hips, flashings and chimney stacks.
Roofs in small places like Merle Common often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Merle Common (RH8)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Wind can peel back flashings at abutments and stacks. Loose or damaged flashings are photographed and noted.
Chimney stacks
Older stacks with worn pointing or cracked flaunching are more likely to suffer. We record both the storm damage and the older wear.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A clear, independent record helps you explain the damage to your insurer. It records the damage and what seems to have caused it, so you are not relying only on your own photos. Around Merle Common, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Merle Common
- Photographs and a written report every time
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- What’s beneath slates, tiles or membranes
- Whether your insurer will pay the claim
- A price for the repairs
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Ridges and hips
- Gutters and fascias
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Flashings
- Flat roofs
Questions from Merle Common
Is Merle Common within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is my home in Merle Common listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can I check the roof after a storm?
Please do not climb onto the roof. Photograph the damage from below or from a window. Note the date and time, and photograph any damage inside.
What if my insurer declines the claim?
Raise it with your insurer first. The Financial Ombudsman Service may look at it if that doesn’t resolve it. The Ombudsman looks at whether there were storm conditions, whether the damage fits a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
Also near Merle Common
More services for Merle Common
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Keep invoices for temporary repairs
- Report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can
- Don’t go onto the roof to take pictures
- Take photos of stains and damp inside
The report is emailed to you, and you decide what to send to your insurer. We do not deal with the insurer on your behalf.
Keep gutters and outlets clear so heavy rain can drain away. Blocked drainage can add water damage to wind damage.
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. Cottages and farmhouses around Merle Common often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe positions.
- Each area of damage is photographed and described.
- We note the likely cause and any signs of older wear.
- We send you the report by email for your insurer.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Read more
Merle Common roofs and the weather
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. With Chartwell about 3.3 miles north-east, Merle Common sits in an area with a long building history. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Holland Junior School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. Landlords with a home close to Hurst Green station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. Merle Common is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Surrey, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
We cover every part of RH8 for storm damage roof reports. We also cover Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Merle Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near Oxted School, among other places. Merle Common’s nearest station is Hurst Green station, roughly 1.4 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). Not far away are Botley Hill and Bay Pond.