Wokingham · London and the South East
Earley Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys across Earley, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
How a flat roof survey works in Earley
A flat roof leak often travels before it shows on the ceiling. It may start at a split, a lifted seam or a failed upstand well away from the damp patch. Our survey covers the whole roof, not just the part above the mark, and photograph anything that could let water in. Whoever carries out the work then has a clear starting point. We survey mastic asphalt, felt flat roofs and EPDM rubber, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are a sagging deck under the covering and edge trims that have lifted or split.
In a town like Earley, lots of shops, schools and business units have flat roofs. Out of sight, they tend to be forgotten until a leak appears. A close look at outlets, upstands and the membrane itself shows where it stands. Let us know who manages the building so access to the roof can be arranged.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Earley (RG6, RG2, RG1)
- Wider area
- Wokingham
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It is useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Also near Earley
Other services in Earley
Different roofs, different checks
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are usually where trouble starts. Every upstand and edge is looked at, with photos of any that have lifted or cracked.
EPDM rubber
EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. Those details are where we focus.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leak over an office, shop or unit can affect the people and stock underneath. Surveying the roof in good time means work can be planned and budgeted around the business. Roof faults found early can be planned for, whereas a leak tends to force the timing on you.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- An independent view of the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Flat and commercial roofs around Earley
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 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, so check with the council. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you live in an older home near Trinity Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near The Oracle, outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts.
Earley is about 2 miles south-east of Reading, in Wokingham. Surveys in Earley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Earley is one of the towns and villages in Wokingham where we work for flat roof surveys.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RG6, RG2 and RG1. Whether your property is on Elm Road, Elm Lane and Mays Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. With the A327 and A3290 close by, Earley is simple for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Earley (1 mile south-east), Whitley (1 mile west), Newtown (2 miles north-west), Whitley Wood (2 miles south-west) and Shinfield (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Wokingham (4 miles south-east), Crowthorne (7 miles south-east), Woosehill (4 miles south-east), Emmbrook (3 miles east), Twyford (4 miles north-east) and Charvil (4 miles north-east). Earley is one of the larger places we cover in Wokingham.
Local landmarks in Earley
Typical jobs here are in homes near Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve, Leighton Park School and The Three Tuns pub. Other local landmarks include University of Reading library (0.7 miles north-west) and Maiden Erlegh School (0.5 miles north-east). For rail, the closest station is Earley station, about 0.9 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.7 miles north-west) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (1.7 miles north-west). The countryside around Earley includes South Lake and Fobney Island Wetland Reserve.
Earley: your questions answered
Is Earley in the area you cover?
Yes, Earley is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Earley?
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.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
We don’t carry out asbestos surveys. Older buildings, from before 2000, may have asbestos in cement sheets or soffits. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: on the roof where it’s safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What we do, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a home in Earley, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. Someone needs to let us in, so tell us who that will be.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
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What we are asked to look at in Earley
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM frequently 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, although how well it was laid and looked after matters a great deal. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Radstock Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What experience they bring
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?