West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burghclere, West Berkshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Burghclere, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Pre-purchase roof survey in Burghclere: what you get
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and blocked or leaking gutters, we can find out what’s behind it, on clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and chimney stacks alike.
For a small place like Burghclere, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Burghclere (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Burghclere: your questions answered
Will you come out to Burghclere?
Yes. Burghclere is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you cover Burghclere?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Burghclere as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. 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.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a small place like Burghclere, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
When to book a survey in Burghclere
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
If you let a flat or house near Newbury station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Are they insured for the work?
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Buying a home or a new roof in Burghclere
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Historic houses such as Highclere Castle, about 1.9 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Burghclere goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take an older house close to Church of the Ascension: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Burghclere is about 4 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Bookings from Burghclere are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
We work across the RG20 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Coronation Close, Breachfield and Harts Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Burghclere: Earlstone Common (1 mile north-east), Burghclere Common (1 mile north), Newtown Common (1 mile north), Penwood (2 miles west) and Wash Water (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (4 miles north), Thatcham (5 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles north-west) and Calcot (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Burghclere
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Clere School and Horris Hill School and the streets around them. Burghclere’s nearest station is Newbury station, about 3.5 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Hamstead Marshall 2 (4.6 miles north-west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.4 miles north). The countryside around Burghclere includes Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
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.
When you need someone else
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A structural engineer’s report
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate