West Berkshire · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Earlstone Common, West Berkshire
Roof leak investigations across Earlstone Common, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Earlstone Common
Some ‘leaks’ are not leaks at all. Condensation in a cold, poorly ventilated loft can drip from nails and timbers, and the stains look much like a leak. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, since the cure for one won’t solve the other. We look at the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. If you’ve noticed water dripping from rafters or underlay and damp underlay across a wide area, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and parapet gutters alike.
Roofs in small places like Earlstone Common often stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Earlstone Common (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Earlstone Common: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Earlstone Common is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Earlstone Common?
Yes, Earlstone Common is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Where conditions suit, it can. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. Its findings are confirmed with a moisture check.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The size of the roof
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Also near Earlstone Common
Also in Earlstone Common
Leaks and storm damage in Earlstone Common
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. The wider area around Earlstone Common has a long history of building, with Highclere Castle about 2.6 miles south-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Trees in and around Sandleford Priory shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. Take an older house close to Church of the Ascension: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Earlstone Common is about 3 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Whether the building in Earlstone Common is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Reading is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: RG20. If you’re just outside Earlstone Common, we cover Burghclere Common (1 mile north), Burghclere (1 mile south-west), Newtown Common (1 mile north), Wash Water (2 miles north-west) and Sandleford (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (3 miles north), Thatcham (4 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles north-west) and Spencers Wood (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Earlstone Common
In Earlstone Common, that means homes and buildings near Burghclere Primary School, Horris Hill School and Sandleford Priory and the streets around them. The closest station to Earlstone Common is Newbury station, about 3 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.2 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.8 miles north). For a walk, there is Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Useful tips for Earlstone Common property owners
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. The photos show the defects and where they are, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Check the loft after heavy rain, with care and a good torch. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
What we’re asked to look at in Earlstone Common
A chimney stack has lots of places for rain to get in. Water can enter through crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching, worn flashings or uncapped pots. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
We are often asked to look at:
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
Take a building like The Clere School: water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What insurance they carry
- What follow-up you get after the report
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. If it’s too low, cracked or poorly dressed, water gets behind it.
Valleys
Valleys collect water from two roof slopes. Worn or split linings and slipped valley tiles let it under the coverings.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older rural homes like those around Earlstone Common 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.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Outside, we check every likely route in.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
To get a price for roof leak investigations in Earlstone Common, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.