West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in East Shefford
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across East Shefford, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
When to book a survey in East Shefford
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
For an older house near a landmark such as St Thomas' Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Pre-purchase roof survey in East Shefford: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in East Shefford and across London and South East England. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Typical surveys look at gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and worn or lifted lead flashings, across natural slate, gutters and downpipes and clay and concrete tiles.
Older buildings in small places like East Shefford may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
You receive the findings 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.
- Place
- East Shefford (RG17, RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to East Shefford
Other services in East Shefford
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
Landlords and letting agents in East Shefford book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like East Shefford can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Common questions in East Shefford
Is my home in East Shefford listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in East Shefford?
We do. The survey and report are the same in East Shefford as anywhere else.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in East Shefford?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll recommend the right survey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Local roofs and buyers in East Shefford
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Kintbury station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
East Shefford is about 7 miles north-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in East Shefford, we can come and survey your property. East Shefford is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire where we work. You can also see our page for Reading.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RG17 and RG20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you’re just outside East Shefford, we cover Great Shefford (1 mile north-west), Weston (1 mile south-east), Wickham (2 miles south), Shefford Woodlands (2 miles south-west) and East Garston (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Newbury (7 miles south-east), Thatcham (9 miles south-east), Speenhamland (7 miles south-east), Hungerford (5 miles south-west), Lambourn (5 miles north-west) and Shaw (7 miles south-east).
Near you in East Shefford
The closest station to East Shefford is Kintbury station, about 4.7 miles south of the centre. Not far away are Sole Common Pond.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Why get it checked now?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Around East Shefford, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
For a price for your roof in East Shefford, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in East Shefford
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof