Reading · London and the South East
Fords Farm Flat Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for flat roof surveys in Fords Farm. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Standing water left after rain
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
What we look for on each type of roof
GRP fibreglass
GRP roofs are laid as a resin and glass-fibre layer over boards. We look for cracks at board joints, around trims and at upstands.
EPDM rubber
A rubber roof can last 30 to 50 years, provided its details were done well. We look closely at each of those details.
How a flat roof survey works in Fords Farm
A flat roof doesn’t shed water the way a pitched roof does. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we look for signs that water has reached the deck. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. We survey mastic asphalt, single-ply membranes and upstands and outlets, and common reasons people get in touch are blistering in felt or asphalt and pools of water lying on the roof.
Around a smaller place like Fords Farm, flat roofs normally cover extensions, garages and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let plenty of water into the room below. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Fords Farm (RG30, RG31)
- Region
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Fords Farm
More services for Fords Farm
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a flat roof is before contracts are exchanged. Once you’ve exchanged, any work on the roof is down to you. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. With lower homes, common in places like Fords Farm, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
For a price for your roof in Fords Farm, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in Fords Farm
- An independent view of the roof
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Fords Farm
Buyers often book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. In each case, the report gives a written, photographed record of the roof’s condition.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Leaks around rooflights
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Splits, cracks and crazing
If you look after a building like Kennet Valley Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
What to check before booking
- When you will get the report
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which limits apply to the survey
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Homes around Fords Farm often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We check the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
What a flat roof survey looks like in Fords Farm
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. About 3.1 miles north lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Fords Farm has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Reading Green Park station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. If you live in an older home near St Matthew's, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Bookings from Fords Farm are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Fords Farm is one of the places in Reading we cover for flat roof surveys.
We cover every part of RG30 and RG31 for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Landmarks near Fords Farm
In Fords Farm, that means homes and buildings near Prospect School, Elvian School and The Cunning Man pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Fords Farm is Reading Green Park station, about 1.4 miles south-east. A little further out are Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Fords Farm includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
How we price flat roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The roof’s overall size
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fords Farm
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Fords Farm
Do you cover Fords Farm?
Yes, Fords Farm is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Fords Farm listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Ponding is worth looking into. It often means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.