West Berkshire · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Thatcham
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Thatcham, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Standing water left after rain
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Cracked or split membrane
Flat roof survey in Thatcham: what you get
Every flat roof covering tends to fail in its own way. Felt can blister and crack, asphalt can craze and split, EPDM seams and laps can lift, and GRP can crack where boards meet or at the trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Once you know the covering and its condition, planning the next step is far easier. Common reasons to book are upstands pulling away from walls and blocked or damaged outlets, across EPDM rubber, single-ply membranes and felt flat roofs.
In a town like Thatcham, flat roofs are common on rear extensions, garages, porches and dormers. Older ones are often felt, which often lasts around 15–20 years, while newer ones may be EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass. The usual warning signs are standing water, splits and edges coming away. Standing water days after rain often shows a flat roof needs attention.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Thatcham (RG19, RG18)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Thatcham property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, particularly after the leaves fall. Water that can drain away does far less harm than water that sits.
Why get it checked now?
A small split in a flat roof is usually a modest job when it is found early. Leave it, and water can get into the insulation and deck, which can turn a patch into a replacement. Surveying it now tells you where you stand. Around Thatcham, water from a roof defect often goes unseen for a while, such as the loft insulation, the top of a wall or the roof timbers. By the time a stain appears on a ceiling, there’s more to put right.
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why us?
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Flat and commercial roofs around Thatcham
Historic houses such as Shaw House, about 2.7 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Thatcham goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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.
Take an older house close to United Reformed Church: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Spurcroft Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Thatcham is about 12 miles north-west of Basingstoke, in West Berkshire. We cover Thatcham and the rest of West Berkshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
Surveys in RG19 and RG18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Station Road and Flagstaff Square. With the A4 close by, Thatcham is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. Other places close to Thatcham include Benham Hill (1 mile west), Ashmore Green (2 miles north-west), Cold Ash (2 miles north), Upper Bucklebury (2 miles north-east) and Stone Copse (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Newbury (3 miles west), Burghfield Common (8 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles west), Hungerford (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (12 miles east) and Calcot (9 miles east). Thatcham is one of the larger places we cover in West Berkshire.
Landmarks near Thatcham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Kennet School and The Old Chequers Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Thatcham station, roughly 0.9 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.2 miles south-west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.5 miles west). For a walk, there’s Nature Discovery Centre.
Other services in Thatcham
FAQs for Thatcham
How do I find out if my home in Thatcham is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Thatcham in the area you cover?
Yes, Thatcham is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Thatcham as anywhere else.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Tell us about it as you book and we will explain what’s needed.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. It’s a closer look at the flat roof, not a survey of the whole property. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. Our report notes crazing, cracks and any likely entry points.
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.
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 viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Most visits in a town like Thatcham start at the front of the house and work round to the back. Rear gardens and side paths often give the best view of extensions and back slopes. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We view the roof from ground level, from windows and from the roof where it is safe to do so.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there’s access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Thatcham
Flat roofs swing between hot and cold more than most parts of a building. This constant movement works at laps, seams and board joints, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Coverings that have hardened with age tend to suffer most.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
If you let a flat or house near Thatcham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before you book anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Landlord and commercial surveys in Thatcham
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.