Reading · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Fords Farm, Reading
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Fords Farm, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
The survey, step by step
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes about one to two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a smaller place like Fords Farm, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.
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Pre-purchase roof survey in Fords Farm
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and people most frequently book us about flashings that have lifted or split and standing water on a flat extension roof.
Around Fords Farm, you’ll mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Older roofs frequently have bitumen felt under the coverings, as breathable membranes only arrived in the late 1990s.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Where
- Fords Farm (RG30, RG31)
- Region
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Fords Farm property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photographs to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
Towns and villages near Fords Farm
More services for Fords Farm
What we are asked to look at in Fords Farm
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- A ridge or slope that dips
Landlords with a home close to Reading Green Park station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How soon the report will arrive
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What follow-up you get after the report
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Fords Farm
Do you cover Fords Farm?
Yes, Fords Farm is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like Fords Farm?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Fords Farm?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable as you book.
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Fords Farm: local notes
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. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Matthew's, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. With Mapledurham House about 3.1 miles north, the area around Fords Farm has a long history. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Whether the building in Fords Farm is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Across Reading, we cover Fords Farm.
Every address in RG30 and RG31 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road. We also cover the places around Fords Farm: Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Around Fords Farm
In Fords Farm, that means homes and buildings near Prospect School, Elvian School and The Cunning Man pub, among other places. Fords Farm’s nearest station is Reading Green Park station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Fords Farm include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.