Wokingham · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Reading
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Reading, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Reading
About 3.6 miles north-west lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Reading has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Take an older house close to All Nations Christian Centre: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. Surveys in Reading work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Reading is one of the towns and villages in Wokingham where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Here we cover the RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Downshire Square, Market Way and Market Place. Main roads around Reading include the A4 and A33, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Coley Park (1 mile south-west), West Reading (1 mile north-west), Newtown (1 mile east), Lower Caversham (1 mile north-east) and Whitley (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Wokingham (6 miles south-east), Woodley (3 miles east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles south-east), Winnersh (4 miles east) and Woosehill (6 miles south-east). Being one of Wokingham’s larger places, Reading has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Near you in Reading
We work in homes and buildings around Former Kennet Arms, Eldon Square and Kendrick School, among other places. Also close by are University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east) and Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north). Reading’s nearest station is Reading West station, about 0.7 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find The Oracle (under half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). Not far away are Sonning Hill and Longwater.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Reading
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. Typical surveys look at worn or lifted lead flashings and loose pots and cracked flaunching, across gutters and downpipes, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Property in a place the size of Reading can change hands quickly, and roof problems are easy to miss on a viewing. A new or replacement roof can also look neat from the pavement and still have snags at ridges, valleys or flashings. A close look before you commit, to a purchase or to the final payment, gives you something in writing to raise.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Reading (RG6, RG31, RG1, RG30)
- Region
- Wokingham
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Honest limits
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- A structural engineer’s report
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey 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. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. In busier parts of Reading, parking can be tight, so tell us about driveways, permits or nearby car parks, and for flats, mention stairs, lifts and shared entrances. The roof is inspected from ground level, from inside and, where it is safe, from the roof itself, with the drone where applicable.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Practical tips
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Common questions in Reading
Do you cover Reading?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Reading is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
How do I find out if my home in Reading is listed?
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.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Common roof problems in Reading
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Flashings that have lifted or split
For landlords with property near Reading West station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- Which limits apply to the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is added on top
Also near Reading
Other services in Reading
Why get it checked now?
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Roof faults in Reading, as anywhere, rarely fix themselves: a slipped slate or cracked ridge lets in water, water rots battens, and more slates or tiles follow. Dealing with it early is normally the cheaper route.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.