West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hermitage, West Berkshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Hermitage, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hermitage
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Typical surveys look at a ridge or slope that dips and chimney mortar that has eroded, across the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys.
Being in a small place like Hermitage makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Hermitage (RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book.
Hermitage: your questions answered
Is my home in Hermitage listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is Hermitage within the area you cover?
Yes. Hermitage is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Let us know about it when you book and we will explain what’s needed.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Hermitage?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Hermitage
Shaw House, about 3.4 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hermitage. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
The streets around a church like Holy Trinity are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Hermitage is about 4 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. Hermitage gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Hermitage is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire we cover. Reading is in our area too.
All of RG18 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Newbury Road, Lipscomb Close and Marlston Road and the roads around them. Other places close to Hermitage include Longlane (1 mile south-west), Little Hungerford (1 mile north-east), Oare (1 mile north), Wellhouse (1 mile east) and Curridge (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (4 miles south-west), Thatcham (4 miles south), Burghfield Common (10 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west) and Spencers Wood (14 miles east).
Landmarks near Hermitage
In Hermitage, that means homes and buildings near The White Horse pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Newbury Racecourse station, roughly 4 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Hampstead Norris Castle (2.4 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.3 miles south). The countryside around Hermitage includes Snelsmore Common.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hermitage
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Letting agents and landlords in Hermitage book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
Common roof problems in Hermitage
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It’s a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
We are often asked to look at:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
For landlords with property near Newbury Racecourse station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What insurance they carry
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What experience they bring
Also in Hermitage
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How big the roof is
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you contact us
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- The property’s address and postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photographs. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a village or hamlet like Hermitage, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets in another room
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.