West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Compton, West Berkshire
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Compton from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Compton
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 photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed blistered or split felt on a flat roof and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older buildings in small places like Compton may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Compton (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Compton
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Compton
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
Around Compton, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Compton is about 7 miles south of Didcot, in West Berkshire. Surveys in Compton work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Berkshire, we cover Compton. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RG20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on High Street, Lowbury Gardens and Cheap Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover East Ilsley (2 miles north-west), Aldworth (2 miles east), Woodway (3 miles north), Blewbury (4 miles north) and Chilton (4 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Newbury (9 miles south), Thatcham (8 miles south), Burghfield Common (11 miles south-east), Speenhamland (8 miles south-west), Hungerford (14 miles south-west) and Spencers Wood (15 miles south-east).
Around Compton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Downs School and The Swan pub, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Hampstead Norris Castle (2.5 miles south). Not far away are Churn Hill.
The survey, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Around Compton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you. In a place like Compton, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Places near Compton
Other services in Compton
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Compton
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Compton
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary and St Nicholas: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens after the report arrives
- How soon the report will arrive
- What exactly goes into their report
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Compton
Is my home in Compton listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Compton in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.