Reading · London and the South East
Play Hatch Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A careful look at the roof at your property in Play Hatch, with photos and a written report.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Play Hatch
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most often book us about quick fixes on flashings and valleys and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
Older buildings in small places like Play Hatch 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.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Place
- Play Hatch (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Somewhere as small as Play Hatch, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Common roof problems in Play Hatch
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.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Andrew's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What the survey will not cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Nearby places to Play Hatch
What else we do in Play Hatch
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Buying a home or a new roof in Play Hatch
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’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. Historic houses like Mapledurham House, about 4.4 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Play Hatch goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own a rental within reach of Reading station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We survey roofs in Play Hatch as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Reading, we cover Play Hatch and the places around it.
Every address in RG4 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Around Play Hatch
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading Blue Coat School and The Shoulder of Mutton pub. For rail, the closest station is Reading station, roughly 2.2 miles south-west. A little further out are The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Play Hatch include Alder Moors and South Lake.
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Why act early in Play Hatch
Plenty of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Around Play Hatch, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Common questions in Play Hatch
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Play Hatch?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is Play Hatch within the area you cover?
Yes. Play Hatch is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
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.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.