West Berkshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Burghclere
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Burghclere, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp on a chimney breast
Common questions in Burghclere
Will you come out to Burghclere?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Burghclere?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Burghclere as anywhere else.
How much does a roof leak investigation cost in Burghclere?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
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 as you book.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us as you book.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
How a roof leak investigation works in Burghclere
Flat roofs leak in their own ways. Common causes are splits and blisters, tired upstands and outlets that do not drain. Standing water puts extra pressure on every weak point. We check the roof surface and the ceiling below. Leaks under flat extension, garage and dormer roofs are common. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. If you are worried about water dripping from rafters or underlay and damp on a chimney breast, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on the roof space, valleys and parapet gutters and slate and tile slopes alike.
In a village or hamlet like Burghclere, older cottages and farmhouses often have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you’re thinking of an insurance claim. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Location
- Burghclere (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Burghclere
Also in Burghclere
Why get it checked now?
A leak rarely stays small. Damp spreads into rafters, ceilings and insulation. Tracing it now means less to put right later. In a place like Burghclere, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Burghclere
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Burghclere?
When a slate slips or a tile cracks, the underlay takes the water. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, and very old roofs may have no underlay at all. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
Take a building like Burghclere Primary School: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What they will not be able to tell you
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. We say which items need prompt attention.
Look at the roof from the ground after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
Wind, rain and roofs in Burghclere
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. The wider area around Burghclere has a long history of building, with Highclere Castle about 1.9 miles south-west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as Church of the Ascension are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. Landlords with a home close to Newbury station may find that a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Burghclere is about 4 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Whether the building in Burghclere is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Burghclere is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire we cover. We also survey roofs in Reading.
All of RG20 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Coronation Close, Breachfield and Harts Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Burghclere include Earlstone Common (1 mile north-east), Burghclere Common (1 mile north), Newtown Common (1 mile north), Penwood (2 miles west) and Wash Water (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (4 miles north), Thatcham (5 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles north-west) and Calcot (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Burghclere
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Clere School and Horris Hill School, among other places. Burghclere’s nearest station is Newbury station, about 3.5 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Hamstead Marshall 2 (4.6 miles north-west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.4 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes an hour or two at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Burghclere can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.