Wokingham · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Earley
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Earley, with photos and a written report.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Earley: what you get
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a close look at it before you are committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. You get a report with photographs. We survey the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are blistered or split felt on a flat roof and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing.
In a town like Earley, older streets normally sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. For a purchase or a new roof in Earley, the type of roof decides where the checks focus, from fixings and underlay to ridges and valleys. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Earley (RG6, RG2, RG1)
- Wider area
- Wokingham
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Earley homes and their roofs
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you live in an older home near Trinity Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. If you own a rental within reach of Earley station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Earley is about 2 miles south-east of Reading, in Wokingham. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Earley for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Earley is one of the places in Wokingham we cover.
Here we cover the RG6, RG2 and RG1 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Elm Road, Elm Lane and Mays Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Earley is on the A327 and A3290, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around Earley: Lower Earley (1 mile south-east), Whitley (1 mile west), Newtown (2 miles north-west), Whitley Wood (2 miles south-west) and Shinfield (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Wokingham (4 miles south-east), Crowthorne (7 miles south-east), Woosehill (4 miles south-east), Emmbrook (3 miles east), Twyford (4 miles north-east) and Charvil (4 miles north-east). Being one of Wokingham’s larger places, Earley has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Local landmarks in Earley
In Earley, that means homes and buildings near Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve, Leighton Park School and The Three Tuns pub, among other places. Other local landmarks include University of Reading library (0.7 miles north-west) and Maiden Erlegh School (0.5 miles north-east). The nearest railway station is Earley station, roughly 0.9 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.7 miles north-west) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (1.7 miles north-west). The countryside around Earley includes South Lake and Fobney Island Wetland Reserve.
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Earley frequently share a roof line with the neighbours, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. It is useful to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work, so time on site goes where it is needed.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, 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.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Arrange a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Read more
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Also near Earley
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Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Earley
How should I get ready for a visit in Earley?
The main thing is access, inside and out, plus somewhere to park in Earley. Let us know about known leaks or past repairs as well.
Is my home in Earley listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Earley?
Simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
We’ll usually ask about:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Anything about access we should know
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
What this survey can’t tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.