West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Great Lea Common
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Great Lea Common, with photos and a written report.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Questions from Great Lea Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Lea Common?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Great Lea Common?
Yes, Great Lea Common is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Great Lea Common?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Great Lea Common
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Great Lea Common, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Great Lea Common (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Lea Common
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
Great Lea Common homes and their roofs
Stratfield Saye House, about 4.3 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Lea Common. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. 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. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
The streets around a church such as St Paul's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Great Lea Common is about 3 miles south of Reading, in West Berkshire. Great Lea Common is one of many places we visit across West Berkshire. Great Lea Common is one of the places in West Berkshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
We survey roofs across RG7 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Three Mile Cross (1 mile south-east), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-east), Ryeish Green (1 mile south-east), Green Park (1 mile north-west) and Shinfield (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Newbury (15 miles west), Thatcham (12 miles west), Burghfield Common (4 miles west), Speenhamland (15 miles west), Calcot (4 miles north-west) and Shaw (14 miles west).
What’s near Great Lea Common
We work in homes and buildings around Geoffrey Field Junior School, Ryeish Green School and Pearman's Copse. For rail, the closest station is Reading Green Park station, about 1.5 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (3 miles north) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Longwater.
What we are asked to look at in Great Lea Common
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you own a rental within reach of Reading Green Park station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether VAT is added on top
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Nearby places to Great Lea Common
Other services in Great Lea Common
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It typically 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. In a small place like Great Lea Common, access is typically the main thing to plan. 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 is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.