West Berkshire · London and the South East
West Ilsley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in West Ilsley from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
What happens on the day
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from the ground, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around West Ilsley often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
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About our pre-purchase roof survey in West Ilsley
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations. We survey lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and the roof space, and common reasons people get in touch are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and chimney mortar that has eroded.
For a small place like West Ilsley, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- West Ilsley (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. Outbuildings and barns around West Ilsley are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
What you get with us
- A written report with photos
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
West Ilsley: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in West Ilsley is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to West Ilsley?
Yes, West Ilsley is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in West Ilsley?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in West Ilsley: local notes
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Around West Ilsley, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
West Ilsley is about 6 miles south-west of Didcot, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in West Ilsley, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Our West Berkshire coverage includes West Ilsley and the places around it. Oxford is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RG20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Bury Lane and Churchway or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to West Ilsley include Catmore (2 miles south-west), Stanmore (2 miles south), Farnborough (3 miles west), Brightwalton (4 miles south-west) and Brightwalton Green (4 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Newbury (10 miles south), Thatcham (10 miles south), Burghfield Common (15 miles south-east), Speenhamland (9 miles south), Hungerford (12 miles south-west) and Calcot (13 miles south-east).
Near you in West Ilsley
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Harrow pub and the streets around them. Nearby you’ll also find Atlas Computer Laboratory (2.4 miles north). Open spaces near West Ilsley include Mowbray Fields and Churn Hill.
What affects the price in West Ilsley
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before you book.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Places near West Ilsley
Also in West Ilsley
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Let us know your timetable
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
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. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.