Bracknell Forest · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hanworth, Bracknell Forest
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Hanworth, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Local roofs and buyers in Hanworth
Bracknell, which Hanworth is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Low pitches, ageing concrete tiles and old flat roofs each have their own weak points, worth knowing before you commit. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
For landlords with property near Bracknell station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. For an older house near a landmark such as St Michael and St Mary Magdalene's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Hanworth is about 1 mile south of Bracknell, in Bracknell Forest. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Hanworth and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Bracknell Forest, large and small. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RG12 and RG40. Streets in the area include Hanworth Road, Waterham Road and Crowthorne Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Birch Hill (1 mile east), Wooden Hill (1 mile west), Great Hollands (1 mile north-west), Home Farm (1 mile west) and Crown Wood (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Sandhurst (3 miles south), Lawrence Hill (3 miles north), Binfield (3 miles north), Quelm Park (3 miles north), Whitegrove (3 miles north-east) and College Town (4 miles south).
What’s near Hanworth
In Hanworth, that means homes and buildings near Easthampstead Park Community School, The Brakenhale School and Golden Retriever pub. The closest station to Hanworth is Bracknell station, about 1.5 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Pinewood Hospital (1.5 miles west) and Small Arms School Corps Weapons Collection (3.6 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Wildmoor Heath and Heath Lake.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hanworth
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey seven days a week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a smaller place like Hanworth, some houses face open ground, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are looked at closely. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
You receive the findings 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
- Hanworth (RG12, RG40)
- Region
- Bracknell Forest
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Other services in Hanworth
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What we can’t see
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:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
What we do, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit to a smaller place like Hanworth is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Hanworth, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Why act early in Hanworth
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, and it won’t look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you. In a smaller place like Hanworth, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Hanworth
Do you cover smaller places like Hanworth?
Yes, Hanworth is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Hanworth listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.