West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Fair Cross
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Fair Cross from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Fair Cross
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We are frequently asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, on gutters and downpipes, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.
Being in a small place like Fair Cross makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Fair Cross (RG7)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. 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, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Local roofs and buyers in Fair Cross
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. Stratfield Saye House, about 0.7 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fair Cross. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St. Mary the Virgin, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Fair Cross is about 6 miles east of Tadley, in West Berkshire. Whether the building in Fair Cross is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Reading.
Here we cover the RG7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Stratfield Saye (1 mile south-west), West End Green (2 miles west), Stratfield Mortimer (2 miles north-west), Spanish Green (2 miles south) and Wokefield (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Newbury (14 miles west), Thatcham (11 miles west), Burghfield Common (4 miles north-west), Speenhamland (14 miles west), Spencers Wood (3 miles north-east) and Calcot (6 miles north).
What’s near Fair Cross
The nearest railway station is Mortimer station, roughly 1.7 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Beaumys Castle (1.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Longwater and The Marshes Local Nature Reserve.
Nearby places to Fair Cross
Other services in Fair Cross
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Landlords and agents in Fair Cross book surveys as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Questions from Fair Cross
Will you come out to Fair Cross?
Yes, Fair Cross is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is Fair Cross in the area you cover?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Fair Cross is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
What insurance do you have?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is 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.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What to tell us when you get in touch
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we will point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Fair Cross
The fixings and underlay frequently fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Flashings that have lifted or split
If you own a rental within reach of Mortimer station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before you book
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Are they insured for the work?
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Fair Cross can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.