West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Lambourn
Wondering about the roof at a property in Lambourn? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Lambourn and across West Berkshire.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lambourn: what you get
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is frequently not the individual flat owner. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We survey clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate, and people most often book us about patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Lambourn, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you’re buying in Lambourn or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Lambourn (RG17)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Lambourn, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- 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 report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
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Also near Lambourn
What else we do in Lambourn
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lambourn
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Problems we come across often include:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Old water stains in the loft space
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Michael and All Angels, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What they will not be able to tell you
- When you’ll get the report
What we cannot see
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Lambourn
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
What happens if roof problems are left?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. On a bungalow or cottage around Lambourn, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why book with us
- 98% of customers satisfied
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Common questions in Lambourn
Is my home in Lambourn listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover smaller places like Lambourn?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Lambourn: local notes
Historic houses such as Ashdown House, about 3.5 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Lambourn goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Lambourn is about 7 miles south-west of Wantage, in West Berkshire. Anywhere in Lambourn, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Lambourn is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Every address in RG17 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Station Road and Chapel Lane and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Sheepdrove (1 mile north-east), Upper Lambourn (1 mile north-west), Westcot (6 miles north), Sparsholt (6 miles north) and Kingston Lisle (6 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Newbury (12 miles south-east), Thatcham (14 miles south-east), Speenhamland (11 miles south-east), Hungerford (7 miles south), Shaw (12 miles south-east) and Wash Common (12 miles south-east). Lambourn is among the bigger towns we cover in West Berkshire.
Near you in Lambourn
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The George pub and the streets around them. Open spaces near Lambourn include Watts Bank and Rams Hill.