Reading · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Play Hatch, Reading
Gutter surveys in Play Hatch, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
When to book a survey in Play Hatch
Leaves are behind most blocked gutters. Every autumn, trees fill gutters with leaves, twigs and seeds, and they collect at the outlets. Once an outlet is choked, the gutter fills and overflows.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Overflowing eaves gutters
For site and facilities teams at buildings like St Martin's Catholic Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Gutter survey in Play Hatch: what you get
Damp on walls, water marks under a valley or streaks down the brickwork often trace back to the gutters. Our gutter survey helps show whether the rainwater system is the cause, from whatever is safely visible. If the evidence points elsewhere, such as a flashing or the roof covering, we’ll say so, with a suggested next step. We survey fascias and soffits, valley gutters and downpipes, and people most frequently book us about leaking or loose downpipes and choked outlets or hopper heads.
Somewhere as small as Play Hatch, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Play Hatch (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the gutter as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes between one and two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Play Hatch can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We ask about overflows, damp or leaks you’ve noticed.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are looked at from ground level and vantage points.
- We check hidden gutters, like valleys and parapets, where it is safe to see them.
- We look in the roof space, where there is safe access, for signs of water getting in.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave side gates unlocked
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Gutter surveys in Play Hatch: local notes
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. About 4.4 miles west lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Play Hatch has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Shop and office owners around The Oracle may find that a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you live near a park such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys.
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. From houses to flats and shops in Play Hatch, the roof can be surveyed. We cover towns and villages across Reading, large and small.
Here we cover the RG4 postcode area for gutter surveys. If you need a gutter survey at a property on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or a nearby road, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Play Hatch
We work in homes and buildings around Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading Blue Coat School and The Shoulder of Mutton pub, among other places. The closest station to Play Hatch is Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Not far away are Alder Moors and South Lake.
What happens if roof problems are left?
When a valley or parapet gutter blocks, the water has nowhere safe to go. It can back up into the roof space and the rooms below usually during the worst downpours. It is worth having these gutters looked at before the wetter months. For an older or listed building in a place like Play Hatch, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why book us in Play Hatch
- Photos and a written report every time
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Package prices that include VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Common questions in Play Hatch
Is Play Hatch within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Play Hatch?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How much time does the visit need?
A visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We’ll give you an idea as you book.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
When is the best time for a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Booking before autumn and winter gives you time to plan, and a wet spell can show where gutters overflow.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
How the survey changes by roof type
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. Cracks, rust and leaks are recorded where they can be seen.
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Many homes have plastic gutters and downpipes. As the seals age, joints can start to drip, and brackets can sag under load.
Places near Play Hatch
What else we do in Play Hatch
What affects the price in Play Hatch
We confirm the exact price before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Which survey package you book
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Height and safe access
- How big the roof is
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.