Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Upper Basildon
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Basildon from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Upper Basildon
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is frequently 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 gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. Typical surveys look at cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and worn or lifted lead flashings, across the roof space, chimney stacks and natural slate.
Somewhere as small as Upper Basildon, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Upper Basildon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Upper Basildon can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we cannot promise any result.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Towns and villages near Upper Basildon
Also in Upper Basildon
Landlord and commercial surveys in Upper Basildon
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
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:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Common roof problems in Upper Basildon
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Basildon Park lies about 1.4 miles north-east, so building around Upper Basildon goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
What to check before booking
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Why get it checked now?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit seven days a week, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Around Upper Basildon, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Upper Basildon
- An independent look at the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Basildon
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Basildon?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How do I find out if my home in Upper Basildon is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain doesn’t usually stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Local roofs and buyers in Upper Basildon
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you live in an older home near St Stephen's Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Landlords with a home close to Pangbourne station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Upper Basildon is about 7 miles north-east of Thatcham, in Oxfordshire. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Upper Basildon and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Reading.
We survey roofs across RG8 for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Aldworth Road, Beckfords and Emery Acres or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Upper Basildon include New Town (1 mile south-east), Stubbles (1 mile west), Ashampstead (2 miles west), Ashampstead Green (2 miles west) and Burnt Hill (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Wantage (14 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles east), Grove (15 miles north-west) and Benson (10 miles north).
What’s near Upper Basildon
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Andrew's School and The Red Lion pub, among other places. The closest station to Upper Basildon is Pangbourne station, about 2.3 miles east. Nearby you will also find Yattendon Castle (2.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hartslock.