Reading · London and the South East
Arborfield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Arborfield.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask for loft access on the day
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Arborfield: what you get
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. If you’ve noticed standing water on a flat extension roof and chimney mortar that has eroded, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Older buildings in small places like Arborfield may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Place
- Arborfield (RG2)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Arborfield
Also in Arborfield
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere like Arborfield needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Common questions in Arborfield
Is Arborfield in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Arborfield within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
Local roofs and buyers in Arborfield
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
For landlords with property near Winnersh station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Bartholomew, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Arborfield is about 3 miles west of Wokingham, in Reading. We cover Arborfield and the rest of Reading. Across Reading, we cover Arborfield.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RG2. Local streets include Church Lane, Walden Avenue and Cartershill Lane, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Shinfield (2 miles west), Lower Earley (2 miles north), Ryeish Green (2 miles west), Earley (2 miles north) and Whitley Wood (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Caversham (6 miles north-west), Norcot (6 miles north-west), West Reading (5 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (6 miles north-west), Caversham Heights (6 miles north-west) and Horncastle (6 miles north-west).
Around Arborfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near Swan Inn, Bohunt School Wokingham and Pearman's Copse, among other places. Arborfield’s nearest station is Winnersh station, about 2.5 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Wokingham Hospital (3 miles east) and Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (1.8 miles north-east). The countryside around Arborfield includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Why act early in Arborfield
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but with far less room to act on them. In a small place like Arborfield, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Why book with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Package prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.