Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in New Town, Oxfordshire
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in New Town, with photographs and a clear written report.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof survey in New Town: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in New Town and across London and South East England. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Typical surveys look at ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and loose pots and cracked flaunching, on gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles.
For a small place like New Town, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- New Town (RG8)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in New Town: local notes
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Historic houses like Basildon Park, about 1.4 miles north, show how far back building in the area around New Town goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Stephen's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
New Town is about 7 miles west of Reading, in Oxfordshire. New Town gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes New Town and the places around it. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RG8. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Wakemans and Pangbourne Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to New Town include Upper Basildon (1 mile north-west), Stubbles (2 miles west), Burnt Hill (3 miles west), Ashampstead (3 miles west) and Ashampstead Green (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Wantage (15 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (10 miles east), Benson (10 miles north) and Tilehurst (4 miles east).
Near you in New Town
In New Town, that means homes and buildings near The Beehive pub and St Andrew's School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Pangbourne station, roughly 1.6 miles east. A little further out are Yattendon Castle (3.5 miles west) and Battle Hospital (5.7 miles east). Open spaces near New Town include Hosehill Lake and Hartslock.
Places near New Town
What else we do in New Town
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs. As for time on site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Around New Town, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from 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.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in New Town
Is New Town within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in New Town?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Getting in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. For older village homes like those around New Town, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Common roof problems in New Town
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If you let a flat or house near Pangbourne station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in New Town
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks