West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oare, West Berkshire
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Oare from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Common roof problems in Oare
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 be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Common reasons to book include:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- A ridge or slope that dips
Landlords with a home close to Newbury Racecourse station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the survey will not cover
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oare: what you get
Buyers in Oare and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us. We survey chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and people most frequently book us about old water stains in the roof space and patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem.
Some older homes in villages like Oare are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Oare (RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Oare
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Shaw House lies about 4 miles south-west, so building around Oare goes back a long way. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you live in an older home near Church of St Bartholomew, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Oare is about 4 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. We survey roofs in Oare and the rest of West Berkshire, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We cover every part of RG18 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Manor Lane and Old Street. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Little Hungerford (1 mile south-east), Hermitage (1 mile south), Wellhouse (1 mile south-east), Longlane (1 mile south) and Curridge (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Newbury (5 miles south-west), Thatcham (4 miles south), Burghfield Common (10 miles south-east), Speenhamland (5 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west) and Spencers Wood (14 miles east).
Around Oare
We work in homes and buildings around The White Horse pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Newbury Racecourse station, roughly 4.7 miles south. A little further out are Hampstead Norris Castle (1.8 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4 miles south). Not far away are Snelsmore Common.
Towns and villages near Oare
Other services in Oare
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Oare
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
What to let us know when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
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.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
How the survey works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Around Oare, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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 loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Keep pets in another room
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us, tell us about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
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Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Oare
Will you come out to Oare?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is Oare in the area you cover?
Yes, Oare is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Oare as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Oare
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. Around Oare, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% of clients satisfied
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.