Reading · London and the South East
New Roof Snagging in Horncastle
Find out the condition of the new roof at your property in Horncastle. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Debris left in gutters or valleys
- Loose flashings at walls or chimneys
- Poorly finished verges
About our new roof snagging in Horncastle
Householders book snagging after a re-roof or roof replacement and some new-build owners want their roof looked at. Whatever the roof, we inspect as far as it can safely be seen including from the loft and the roof where it is safe. A photo report follows, ready to share with your roofer or builder. We survey loft conversions and dormers, new flat roofs and replacement roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are underlay at the eaves left exposed and loose or badly finished ridge tiles.
Around Horncastle, you’ll mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
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.
- Place
- Horncastle (RG30, RG31)
- Region
- Reading
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. Most surveys take an hour or two for a typical new house roof, longer where the roof is large or complicated. In a smaller place like Horncastle, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start by finding out what was replaced and what worries you.
- The coverings, ridges, hips and verges are checked as far as can be seen safely.
- Valleys, flashings, gutters and the underlay at the eaves are looked at.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft, then look for debris or damage left behind.
- You get a photo report listing the snags we found.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
What we’re asked to look at in Horncastle
Flashings are a common source of snags. If they’re poorly dressed or fixed, water can get in at the first heavy rain.
Common reasons to book include:
- Broken coverings left on a new roof
- Loose or badly finished ridge tiles
- Missing or blocked roof ventilation
- Gutters blocked by building debris
Take an older house close to Church of St Michael: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Will the report include photos?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Leave it or get it looked at?
A defects or warranty period doesn’t last for ever. A snagging inspection before then leaves time to act. In an older home around Horncastle, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, and that’s a much bigger job than the original defect.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book with us
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- An independent view of the roof
Also near Horncastle
Also in Horncastle
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
New roof snagging around Horncastle
With Mapledurham House about 2.8 miles north, Horncastle sits in an area with a long building history. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you let a flat or house near Reading West station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Horncastle is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. If you’re in Horncastle, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Horncastle is one of the towns and villages in Reading we cover for new roof snagging.
Here we cover the RG30 and RG31 postcode area for new roof snagging. That includes homes and businesses on Low Lane, Usk Road and Mill Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Horncastle: Fords Farm (1 mile south), Southcote (1 mile east), Tilehurst Within (1 mile north), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile south-west) and Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Caversham (3 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 (5 miles north). Horncastle is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading.
Local landmarks in Horncastle
We work in homes and buildings around Elvian School, Prospect School and Calcot Park, among other places. Horncastle’s nearest station is Reading West station, about 1.6 miles north-east. A little further out are Battle Hospital (1.5 miles north-east) and Broad Street Mall (2.2 miles east). Not far away are Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Keep the contract and invoices together
- Watch for drips in the roof space with care
- Book snagging before the final payment
- Send the snagging report to your roofer
Your roofer can use the report to put the snags right. If there’s a dispute, it’s between you and your roofer or builder, and our part is to report what we see.
Do not settle the final bill until the roof has been inspected, where your contract allows. It gives the roofer a reason to finish everything.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. New roof snagging starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The address and postcode of the property
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Horncastle questions
How do I find out if my home in Horncastle is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you come out to Horncastle?
Yes. Horncastle is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Do you get involved if the roofer disagrees with the report?
No. Our job is to report on the roof as we find it. Any dispute is between you and your roofer or builder, and the report gives you a clear record to refer to.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
What’s the best time to have a new roof checked?
As soon as the work is finished, and before the final payment if you can. That leaves time to raise anything we find.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.