Independent roof inspections and written condition reports across Chippenham — visual, drone and pre-purchase surveys. The survey fee is credited against any repair work you book with us.
In short: A roof inspection in Chippenham costs £120–£250 for a visual survey with written report, £150–£350 for a drone survey, and £200–£450 for a pre-purchase inspection. The fee is credited against any repair work you book with us. Reports are suitable for solicitors and mortgage lenders.
A proper roof inspection assesses the covering, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimney, guttering and — where accessible — the roof structure from inside the loft. You receive a written report with photographs, a condition rating for each element and a clear recommendation: what needs doing now, what to watch, and what's sound. Drone surveys reach steep or fragile roofs safely; pre-purchase inspections give buyers an independent read before exchange. The fee is credited against any repairs you book, so an inspection that leads to work effectively costs nothing.
Step 1: Book the survey
Tell us the property and reason — general condition, pre-purchase, or a specific concern. We arrange access.
Step 2: On-site inspection
We assess covering, flashings, chimney, valleys and loft structure, using a drone for steep or fragile roofs.
Step 3: Written report
You receive a photographed report with condition ratings and clear recommendations within 48 hours.
Step 4: Fee credited
If you book repairs with us, the survey fee is deducted from the repair cost.
Honest advice
How to Tell You Need Roof Inspections
A roof inspection tells you exactly what you're dealing with — what needs doing now, what to watch, and what's sound — before you spend on repairs or exchange on a purchase.
You're buying a property and want an independent read before exchange
Your roof is ageing and you want to plan, not react
A mortgage surveyor flagged the roof
You've had a leak and want the whole roof assessed, not just patched
You're a landlord needing documented condition for your records
When it is not the answer: If you already know exactly what's wrong — a single obvious slipped tile — you don't need a full survey; just book the repair. Read the full guide.
Diagram: national roofing standards illustrated. Advice on your roof is given after a free survey.
What we check depends heavily on the era of the property. On the 1958–1978 concrete-tile estates — Hardenhuish, Stanley, Cocklebury — the first thing we assess is nail sickness: we lift and test representative tiles on each slope to see whether the fixing nails have corroded. This is the single most important finding on Chippenham's post-war stock, because it determines whether a property needs a repair or a re-roof, and it's exactly what a buyer's mortgage surveyor will flag.
On Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Monkton Park, Hartham and along London Road we check for slate delamination, failed Victorian leadwork in valleys and around chimneys, and ridge mortar deterioration. On 1990s–2000s Pewsham stock the focus shifts to felt flat-roof extensions at end of life and early uPVC gutter joint failure. We match the inspection to what actually goes wrong on that era of Chippenham house.
The Pre-Purchase Inspection Angle
We carry out more pre-purchase roof surveys along London Road and on the older Chippenham streets than anywhere else, because buyers recognise the age profile and want an independent read before they exchange. A homebuyer's general survey often notes the roof only in passing; a dedicated roof inspection gives you a photographed, itemised condition report and a repair-cost estimate you can use to renegotiate or to budget.
For buyers on the concrete-tile estates, the key question is always the same: has nail sickness set in, and if so, is it a phased job or a full re-roof? We give you that answer in writing, with the likely cost, before you commit. The £200–£450 pre-purchase fee is trivial against the £8,000+ a surprise re-roof would cost after completion — and it's credited if you go on to book the work with us.
The process
How a Chippenham Roof Inspections Job Runs
1. Book the survey
Tell us the property and reason — general condition, pre-purchase, or a specific concern.
2. On-site inspection
We assess covering, flashings, chimney, valleys and loft structure, using a drone for steep roofs.
3. Written report
A photographed report with a condition rating for each element and clear recommendations, within 48 hours.
4. Discuss findings
We talk you through what needs doing now versus what can wait, with cost estimates.
5. Fee credited
If you book repairs with us, the survey fee is deducted from the repair cost.
Timescales
Typical Timescales
Job
Typical duration
Visual inspection (on site)
45–90 minutes
Drone survey
30–60 minutes
Written report delivered
within 48 hours
Pre-purchase inspection
1–2 hours on site
Full condition survey (large/listed)
half day
Drone surveys need calm, dry conditions to fly safely; we reschedule in high wind rather than compromise the imagery.
Access
Scaffold, Skips & Street Access
Most inspections are done from ground, ladder and drone; internal access to the loft is needed for a full structural read. Scaffold is specified for: rarely — only a full hands-on condition survey of a complex or listed roof may need access - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Terraced streets around Chippenham's town centre and the historic core have no side access, so materials and waste pass over the front and scaffold setup takes longer; the post-war estates at Hardenhuish, Stanley and Cocklebury have generous access. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Wiltshire Council; allow a few working days on streets like Foghamshire, The Causeway, St Mary Street, the lanes around the Buttercross where space is tight.
Pricing
Roof Inspections Prices in Chippenham
Job
Typical range
Notes
Visual inspection + written report
£120–£250
Photographed, 48hr turnaround
Drone survey
£150–£350
Steep / fragile roofs
Pre-purchase inspection
£200–£450
Suitable for solicitors/lenders
Full condition survey (large/listed)
£300–£600
Hands-on, detailed
Nail-sickness assessment
included
Tested per slope
Fee credited against repairs
yes
If you book work with us
What moves the price
Survey type — visual, drone, pre-purchase or full condition
Property size and roof complexity
Whether drone access is needed for steep or fragile roofs
Listed / heritage stock needing a detailed hands-on survey
Worked example: A pre-purchase inspection on a 1960s Hardenhuish semi that identified nail sickness the buyer's general survey missed: £300, credited when they booked the phased repair.
The inspection fee is credited in full against any repair work you book with us. VAT included. No obligation to proceed.
Covering SN14, SN15, SN11, SN13 and surrounding postcodes.
Guarantee
The Guarantee in Plain Terms
The report is independent and written; if you book work with us the survey fee is credited, and any subsequent work carries our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Covered: workmanship for 10 years, in writing, transferable if you sell.
On top: manufacturer warranties on materials (terms vary by product).
Not covered: storm or impact damage - that is an insurance matter, and we will document it for your claim.
If a fault appears in covered work, we come back and put it right. No quibbling, no re-charge.
Pricing
Roof Inspection Prices in Chippenham
Visual inspection + written report
£120 – £250
Drone survey (steep / fragile roofs)
£150 – £350
Pre-purchase inspection
£200 – £450
Full condition survey (large / listed)
£300 – £600
Nail sickness assessment (per slope)
included in survey
Fee credited against booked repairs
yes
Indicative Chippenham prices for guidance. Every quote is free, itemised and fixed before work starts — no call-out fee.
“A roof condition report should record the covering, flashings, rainwater goods and visible structure, with a clear statement of remaining serviceable life — not simply a pass or fail.”
— RICS roof survey standards
A short, non-invasive visit — we need access to the loft and around the property, but nothing is disturbed or removed. You do not need to stay home for external work - we just need power and access agreed in advance.
Inspections run year-round; drone work is weather-dependent, and we'll pick a dry, calm window for aerial surveys. Chippenham sits in the Avon valley, open to the prevailing south-westerlies, so exposed elevations weather faster and riverside streets in Hartham and Monkton Park hold damp longer into autumn.
Reviews
What Chippenham Customers Say
★★★★★
“Booked a pre-purchase survey on a house in Hardenhuish. They found nail sickness the estate agent's survey missed and I renegotiated £6k off. Best £300 I've spent.”
Chris A. · Hardenhuish, Chippenham · Pre-purchase survey
★★★★★
“Drone survey on our steep Victorian roof in Monkton Park — couldn't have checked it any other way. Proper written report, photos of every problem.”
Helen M. · Monkton Park, Chippenham · Drone survey
★★★★★
“Wanted an honest read on our roof before selling in Pewsham. Written report, no scare tactics, and they credited the fee when we did the small repairs.”
Dawn K. · Pewsham, Chippenham · Condition survey
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A visual inspection with written report is £120–£250, a drone survey £150–£350, and a pre-purchase inspection £200–£450. The fee is credited against any repair work you book with us, so an inspection leading to repairs effectively costs nothing.
Yes. If our inspection identifies work and you book it with us, we deduct the full survey fee from the repair cost. You only pay the fee outright if you choose not to proceed or use another contractor.
Yes — these are among our most requested surveys, especially on Chippenham's older streets and post-war estates. You get a photographed condition report and repair-cost estimate before exchange, which you can use to renegotiate or budget. Reports suit solicitors and lenders.
Nail sickness is the corrosion of the mild steel nails fixing concrete tiles on 1958–1978 roofs — common across Hardenhuish, Stanley and Cocklebury. We test tiles on each slope because it determines whether a roof needs a repair or a re-roof, and it's the first thing a mortgage surveyor flags.
Yes — we use drone surveys for steep, high or fragile roofs, capturing close-up imagery of every element without walking the covering. This is often the only safe way to assess Victorian and heritage roofs in Chippenham.
Yes — every inspection includes a written report with photographs, a condition rating for each roof element and clear recommendations, delivered within 48 hours. It's suitable for solicitors, mortgage lenders and insurers.
A standard visual survey takes 45–90 minutes on site; a drone survey is quicker. The written report follows within 48 hours. Full condition surveys on large or listed properties take longer.
