West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Downend, West Berkshire
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Downend. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Downend: your questions answered
Will you come out to Downend?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you cover Downend?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Downend as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Downend
We survey roofs for buyers in Downend and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you are worried about ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and worn or lifted lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it.
For a small place like Downend, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on any day of the week.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Downend (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Downend property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
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.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Downend
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Shaw House lies about 4.2 miles south, so building around Downend goes back a long way. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Downend is about 5 miles north of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in Downend, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Our West Berkshire coverage includes Downend. There is also a page for Reading.
Every address in RG20 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Downend Lane, Bardown and Northfields or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Downend: Chieveley (1 mile south), North Heath (1 mile south-west), World's End (1 mile north-east), Peasemore (2 miles north-west) and Beedon (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Newbury (5 miles south), Thatcham (5 miles south-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles south-east), Speenhamland (5 miles south), Hungerford (10 miles south-west) and Calcot (12 miles east).
Landmarks near Downend
In Downend, that means homes and buildings near The Wheatsheaf pub and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include Hampstead Norris Castle (3.3 miles east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.7 miles south). For a walk, there’s Snelsmore Common.
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: 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.
When to book a survey in Downend
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It’s often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Are they insured for the work?
Leave it or get it looked at?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. Older cottages and farmhouses around Downend can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book us in Downend
- An independent look at the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
Towns and villages near Downend
More services for Downend
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere as small as Downend, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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 inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space