West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Inkpen Common, West Berkshire
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Inkpen Common.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- A ridge or slope that dips
Pre-purchase roof survey in Inkpen Common
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and natural slate, and people most frequently book us about blocked or leaking gutters and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
In a village or hamlet like Inkpen Common, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Inkpen Common (RG17, RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Inkpen Common?
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Problems we come across often include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Laurence, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
FAQs for Inkpen Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Inkpen 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.
Do you cover Inkpen Common?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Inkpen Common is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
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. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Inkpen Common
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. 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.
Local roofs and buyers in Inkpen Common
Stargroves, about 2.7 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Inkpen Common. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
If you own a rental within reach of Kintbury station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Inkpen Common is about 6 miles west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. If you’re in Inkpen Common, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our West Berkshire coverage includes Inkpen Common. Reading is in our area too.
We work across the RG17 and RG20 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Heads Lane, Rooksnest Lane and The Firs. We also cover the places around Inkpen Common: Hell Corner (1 mile east), Inkpen (1 mile north-west), Upper Green (1 mile south-west), Lower Green (1 mile west) and Kintbury (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (6 miles east), Thatcham (9 miles east), Speenhamland (6 miles east), Hungerford (4 miles north-west), Lambourn (10 miles north) and Shaw (7 miles east).
Around Inkpen Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Crown and Garter pub. Inkpen Common’s nearest station is Kintbury station, about 2 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Hamstead Marshall 3 (3.1 miles north-east). The countryside around Inkpen Common includes Kintbury Newt Ponds and Inkpen Hill.
Towns and villages near Inkpen Common
What else we do in Inkpen Common
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report. On timing, it typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Inkpen Common, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Roof area
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.