West Berkshire · London and the South East
Swallowfield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Swallowfield, with photographs and a written report.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Pre-purchase roof survey in Swallowfield
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We survey the roof space, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most frequently book us about worn or lifted lead flashings and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
Being in a small place like Swallowfield makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Swallowfield (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Swallowfield
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Roof area
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Anything about access we should know
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older rural homes like those around Swallowfield can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Swallowfield
Do you cover smaller places like Swallowfield?
Yes, Swallowfield is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Swallowfield listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
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. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we can’t promise any saving.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Swallowfield?
Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Swallowfield
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Swallowfield. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Swallowfield homes and their roofs
Historic houses such as Stratfield Saye House, about 2.6 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Swallowfield goes. 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. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Swallowfield is about 5 miles south of Reading, in West Berkshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Swallowfield and nearby. Swallowfield is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
We work across RG7 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on The Street, Hornbeams and Fieldfare Court and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Riseley (1 mile south), Spencers Wood (1 mile north), Beech Hill (2 miles west), Farley Hill (2 miles east) and Grazeley (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Thatcham (13 miles west), Burghfield Common (5 miles west), Calcot (6 miles north-west), Shaw (15 miles west), Burghfield Hill (4 miles west) and Theale (6 miles north-west).
Around Swallowfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near Oakbank, Swallowfield Meadow and The Crown pub and the streets around them. Swallowfield’s nearest station is Mortimer station, roughly 3.3 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Beaumys Castle (0.9 miles west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (5 miles north). For a walk, there’s The Marshes Local Nature Reserve and Longwater.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Swallowfield
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
If you let a flat or house near Mortimer station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Their drone registration, if they fly one