West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Burghclere Common
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Burghclere Common, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burghclere Common
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. If you’re worried about blistered or split felt on a flat roof and slipped or missing slates and tiles, we can find out what’s behind it.
For a small place like Burghclere Common, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Burghclere Common (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Also near Burghclere Common
What else we do in Burghclere Common
What we are asked to look at in Burghclere Common
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we check.
Problems we come across often include:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
If you live in an older home near Church of the Ascension, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
What to check before booking
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the survey will not cover
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a small place like Burghclere Common, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know about parking near the property
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Burghclere Common
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. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you let a flat or house near Newbury station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Historic houses such as Highclere Castle, about 2.7 miles south-west, show how far back building around Burghclere Common goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Burghclere Common is about 3 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Bookings from Burghclere Common are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Burghclere Common is one of the places in West Berkshire we cover. There is also a page for Reading.
Every address in RG20 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover Earlstone Common (1 mile south), Newtown Common (1 mile north), Burghclere (1 mile south), Wash Water (1 mile west) and Sandleford (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (3 miles north), Thatcham (4 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles north-west) and Spencers Wood (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Burghclere Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Horris Hill School, Sandleford Priory and Burghclere Primary School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Newbury station, roughly 2.7 miles north of the centre. A little further out are West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.1 miles north-east). Not far away are Audrey's Meadow and Beacon Hill.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- Share the report with your solicitor
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Burghclere Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Burghclere Common?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Burghclere Common?
Yes, Burghclere Common is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
How do I book a survey in Burghclere Common?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What’s prompted the survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.