Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Storm damage roof report in South Harefield, Buckinghamshire
An experienced roof surveyor for storm damage roof reports in South Harefield. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Flashings pulled away from walls or stacks
- Loose or broken chimney pots and cowls
- Damage from fallen branches or debris
About our storm damage roof report in South Harefield
Wear and tear is typically excluded from home insurance. That makes the difference between storm damage and old wear important. Our report records both: fresh breaks and recently moved slates or tiles, and older problems such as corroded nails or worn mortar. We give an honest view of what we see. Your insurer then decides how its policy applies. If you are worried about stains appearing after strong winds and roofs hit by falling trees, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like South Harefield, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We look at whatever is safely visible and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Where
- South Harefield (UB9)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Read your policy wording on storm damage
- Photograph the damage safely from below
- Keep a note of the date of the storm
- 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.
After a storm, look at the roof from the street or garden. With binoculars, you can often spot problems without climbing. Never climb onto the roof yourself.
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. Older rural homes like those around South Harefield can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You tell us what happened and whether a roofer has made the roof safe.
- Inside, we look for signs of water in the loft and rooms below.
- The roof is inspected from ground level, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We record fresh damage and older defects.
- You receive the written report with photographs.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
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 phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Advice
Signs you need a storm damage roof report in South Harefield
Strong winds lift loose or poorly fixed slates and tiles, ridge pieces and flashings. Driving rain then gets in through the gaps. Most people book a report soon after a storm, when they’ve seen damage or water has come in.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Lead lifted at abutments
- Flat roof edges peeled back
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Damage from fallen branches or debris
Living close to The Green is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What insurance they carry
South Harefield roofs and the weather
Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. About 2.7 miles south-east lies Ickenham Hall, a reminder of how long the area around South Harefield has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Anyone responsible for a site like Harefield Infant School will know that water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
South Harefield is about 3 miles west of Ruislip, in Buckinghamshire. Wherever you are in South Harefield, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Buckinghamshire coverage includes South Harefield and the places around it. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the UB9 postcode area for storm damage roof reports and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Peerless Drive, Truesdale Drive and Priory Avenue or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around South Harefield: Newyears Green (1 mile south-east), Denham (2 miles south), New Denham (3 miles south), Ickenham (3 miles south-east) and Ruislip Manor (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like High Wycombe (12 miles west), Chesham (10 miles north-west), Marlow (13 miles west), Amersham (8 miles north-west), Beaconsfield (7 miles west) and Chalfont St Peter (3 miles west).
What’s near South Harefield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Harefield Academy, The River Garden pub and The Green and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Denham station, about 1 mile south-west. Well-known places in the area include Hillingdon Museum and Archives Services (3.1 miles south) and The Pavilions (3 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Horse Shoe Bay and Dews Farm Sand Pits.
Why get it checked now?
Knowing whether older wear played a part helps you understand your position. We record storm damage and older defects, so there are no surprises later. In a place like South Harefield, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in South Harefield and across Buckinghamshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
Common questions in South Harefield
Do you carry out roof surveys in South Harefield?
Yes, South Harefield is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How do I find out if my home in South Harefield is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What if my insurer declines the claim?
Start by complaining to the insurer. If it isn’t resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help. The Ombudsman looks at whether there were storm conditions, whether the damage fits a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
Can you put a tarpaulin over the damage?
Emergency temporary protection is a job for a roofer. Photograph the damage first if you can do so safely. We can record the damage in our report.
Is there a set wind speed for storm damage?
Each policy has its own definition. Many treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, but your policy sets the actual test.