West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Sheepdrove, West Berkshire
A careful look at the roof at your property in Sheepdrove, with photographs and a written report.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Sheepdrove
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We’re often asked to look into worn or lifted lead flashings and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, on natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Sheepdrove, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Sheepdrove (RG17)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, typically to the back of the house. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a village or hamlet like Sheepdrove, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Common questions in Sheepdrove
Is Sheepdrove in the area you cover?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Sheepdrove is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Sheepdrove is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you’d like to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Places near Sheepdrove
More services for Sheepdrove
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Buying a home or a new roof in Sheepdrove
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Ashdown House, about 3.9 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Sheepdrove goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael and All Angels, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Sheepdrove is about 6 miles south-west of Wantage, in West Berkshire. We cover Sheepdrove and the rest of West Berkshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Across West Berkshire, we cover Sheepdrove and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
We survey roofs across the RG17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Lambourn (1 mile south-west), Upper Lambourn (2 miles west), Sparsholt (5 miles north), Westcot (5 miles north) and Kingston Lisle (5 miles north). Larger places within reach include Newbury (12 miles south-east), Thatcham (14 miles south-east), Speenhamland (11 miles south-east), Hungerford (7 miles south), Shaw (11 miles south-east) and Wash Common (12 miles south-east).
Near you in Sheepdrove
Green spaces nearby include Rams Hill and Seven Barrows.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Sheepdrove
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.