West Berkshire · London and the South East
Wash Water Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys across Wash Water, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Flat roof survey in Wash Water: what you get
A Basic Survey, from £150, covers a visual inspection, a condition report, photos and written recommendations. For moisture detection and a structural check, the Standard Survey starts from £250. On a flat roof, moisture readings can help show whether water has got under the covering. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. We survey single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and mastic asphalt, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are splits and cracks in the covering and upstands pulling away from walls.
Somewhere as small as Wash Water, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. We simply plan the journey and access in advance. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
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.
- Location
- Wash Water (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roof surveys around Wash Water
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. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. About 2.7 miles south lies Highclere Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Wash Water has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
The streets around a church such as St Luke Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start. If you let a flat or house near Newbury station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Wash Water is about 3 miles south-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. We visit Wash Water as part of our work across West Berkshire. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire, large and small. There’s also a page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RG20. You will find streets such as Penwood Road and Andover Road. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Enborne Row (1 mile north-west), Wash Common (1 mile north-east), Newtown Common (1 mile east), Penwood (1 mile south-west) and Woolton Hill (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (3 miles north-east), Thatcham (5 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (13 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles north), Hungerford (8 miles north-west) and Calcot (14 miles east).
Local landmarks in Wash Water
Typical jobs here are in homes near Park House School, Falkland Primary School and The Woodpecker pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Newbury station, about 2.5 miles north-east. A little further out are British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (2.8 miles north-east) and Hamstead Marshall 2 (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Wash Water include Sidown Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Different roofs, different checks
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. The survey checks for crazing, cracking, blistering and splits where the asphalt turns up the walls.
Felt and built-up roofs
Many extensions, garages and dormers have a felt roof laid in layers. The survey checks for blisters, cracks, open laps and bare patches where the surfacing has worn.
Wash Water questions
Do you carry out roof surveys in Wash Water?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Wash Water is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is Wash Water within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It’s not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it. As a guide, felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30, but your report describes the actual condition.
How long is the visit?
It typically takes about one to two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. We will confirm the timing when booking.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Towns and villages near Wash Water
More services for Wash Water
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Wash Water often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
For a price for flat roof surveys in Wash Water, phone 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in Wash Water
Landlords, agents and building managers in Wash Water and across West Berkshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
What we’re asked to look at in Wash Water
The details are often where a flat roof lets go first. Upstands, edge trims, outlets and the kerbs around rooflights move and weather differently from the rest of the roof. If they were rushed when the roof was laid, they’re often the first things to fail.
Look out for signs like these:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
If you look after a building such as Horris Hill School, a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which limits apply to the survey
- When you will get the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Can I check my roof myself?
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Book a survey every few years
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
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.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.