Reading · London and the South East
Norcot Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Wondering about the roof at a property in Norcot? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Norcot and across Reading.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in Norcot
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. 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. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. We survey clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are slipped or missing slates and tiles and old water stains in the roof space.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Norcot, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Norcot. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Norcot (RG30, RG31)
- Region
- Reading
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
Questions from Norcot
Do you cover Norcot?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Norcot is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Is my home in Norcot 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.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about 1–2 hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Height and safe access
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Also in Norcot
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Book once your offer is accepted
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we can’t promise any result.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Norcot?
The fixings and underlay frequently fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from the ground.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Old water stains in the roof space
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
If you let a flat or house near Tilehurst station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
What to check before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Buying a home or a new roof in Norcot
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. About 1.8 miles north lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Norcot has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Tilehurst Methodist Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Norcot is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. We survey roofs in Norcot and the rest of Reading. Norcot is one of the places in Reading where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys.
All of RG30 and RG31 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Ash Road, Tay Road and Tyle Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Norcot, we cover Tilehurst Within (1 mile south-west), Tilehurst (1 mile west), Horncastle (1 mile south), Little Heath (1 mile west) and Fords Farm (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Caversham (3 miles north-east), Shinfield (5 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (8 miles south-east), Whitley Wood (4 miles south-east), Sonning Common (4 miles north-east) and Whitley (4 miles south-east). Norcot is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading.
Around Norcot
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Butchers Arms, Prospect School and Round Copse and the streets around them. The closest station to Norcot is Tilehurst station, roughly 0.8 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (1 mile east). Not far away are South Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Homes around Norcot often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.