West Berkshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Wash Water
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Wash Water and the rest of West Berkshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Wash Water
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How big the roof is
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What made you get in touch
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wash Water: what you get
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. If you are worried about patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Somewhere as small as Wash Water, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Wash Water (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Wash Water
Also in Wash Water
What we can’t see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Surveys for landlords and agents in Wash Water
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Questions from Wash Water
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Wash Water?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like Wash Water?
Yes, Wash Water is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
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, so we can’t promise any saving.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect an hour or two for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a small place like Wash Water, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Wash Water
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Highclere Castle, about 2.7 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Wash Water goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Luke Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Wash Water is about 3 miles south-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Wash Water. Across West Berkshire, we cover Wash Water. There is also a page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RG20. You’ll find streets such as Penwood Road and Andover Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Enborne Row (1 mile north-west), Wash Common (1 mile north-east), Newtown Common (1 mile east), Penwood (1 mile south-west) and Woolton Hill (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (3 miles north-east), Thatcham (5 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (13 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles north), Hungerford (8 miles north-west) and Calcot (14 miles east).
Near you in Wash Water
We work in homes and buildings around Park House School, Falkland Primary School and The Woodpecker pub, among other places. The closest station to Wash Water is Newbury station, about 2.5 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (2.8 miles north-east) and Hamstead Marshall 2 (2.9 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Sidown Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Common roof problems in Wash Water
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. 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.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Landlords with a home close to Newbury station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before you book anyone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Which limits apply to the survey