West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Plastow Green
Wondering about the roof at a property in Plastow Green? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Plastow Green and across West Berkshire.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blocked or leaking gutters
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Plastow Green: what you get
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you’re tied in. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it is safe to get in. You get a written report with photos. We survey chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and a ridge or slope that dips.
Older buildings in small places like Plastow Green may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Plastow Green (RG19)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Plastow Green
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. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list.
For landlords with property near Thatcham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Plastow Green is about 4 miles south of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. If you are in Plastow Green, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Surveys in RG19 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover Goose Hill (1 mile north-east), Mill Green (1 mile north), Headley (1 mile north-west), Fair Oak (1 mile east) and Ashford Hill (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Newbury (5 miles north-west), Thatcham (4 miles north), Burghfield Common (8 miles north-east), Speenhamland (5 miles north-west), Hungerford (13 miles west) and Spencers Wood (12 miles east).
Landmarks near Plastow Green
The closest station to Plastow Green is Thatcham station, about 2.9 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.4 miles north-west) and Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.4 miles north-west). Open spaces near Plastow Green include Ladle Hill and Thatcham Reed Beds.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
What we are asked to look at in Plastow Green
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
If you live in an older home near Church of St Paul, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What experience they bring
- What follow-up you get after the report
Places near Plastow Green
Other services in Plastow Green
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Cottages and farmhouses around Plastow Green frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
To price your survey, we check:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
What we need to know
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Plastow Green: your questions answered
Will you come out to Plastow Green?
Yes, Plastow Green is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Plastow Green is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not 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 quickly will I get the report?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
How do I book a survey in Plastow Green?
Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.