Reading · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Trench Green, Reading
Know where you stand with the leaking roof before you spend money on it. We carry out roof leak investigations in Trench Green, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Condensation that looks like a leak
Roof leak investigation in Trench Green: what you get
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. Each of these is checked in turn and we follow where the evidence leads. Chimneys, dormers and roof lights each add joints of their own. We look at all of them, from every safe vantage point. If you’re worried about water through the ceiling under a flat roof and damp patches next to the stack, we can find out what’s behind it.
Many homes in small places like Trench Green face open ground, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
The report records the leaking roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Trench Green (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the survey around it.
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Trench Green, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Find any records of previous roof work
Arrange a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Roof leak investigations around Trench Green
About 1.1 miles south-west lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Trench Green has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed.
For landlords with property near Tilehurst station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. Shop and office owners around Broad Street Mall may find that a quick answer on where water is coming in keeps a business running. If you live in an older home near Church of St Margaret and Bardolf Aisle, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Trench Green is about 2 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. We carry out roof leak investigations in Trench Green for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Reading.
All of RG4 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Chazey Heath (1 mile east), Mapledurham (1 mile south-west), Purley on Thames (2 miles south-west), Norcot (2 miles south) and Tilehurst (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include West Reading (3 miles south), Shinfield (7 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (9 miles south-east), Horncastle (3 miles south), Whitley Wood (6 miles south-east) and Fords Farm (4 miles south).
Near you in Trench Green
We work in homes and buildings around Pack Horse Public House. The closest station to Trench Green is Tilehurst station, about 1.7 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (2.6 miles south) and Battle Hospital (2.6 miles south). For a walk, there is Moor Copse Nature Reserve and Sonning Hill.
Questions from Trench Green
Do you cover Trench Green?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Trench Green is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Is my home in Trench Green listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
Our job here is to trace the leak and explain it, and the repair is separate. With the report, a roofer knows exactly where to look.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Do not touch fittings that water is reaching
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, and suggest how the roof space could be better ventilated. That avoids roof work that wouldn’t help.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Photograph anything new.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Trench Green
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Height and safe access
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- What kind of property and roof it is
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Honest limits
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A structural engineer’s report
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.