London and the South East
Roof Survey in Reading
Roof surveys in all 34 towns and villages of Reading, with prices that include VAT and surveys on weekdays and weekends.
Roof survey across Reading
What it covers: a roof condition survey for homes and buildings. Find your town in the lists below for local details, or call 07833 053749 to book.
Biggest towns in Reading
Roof survey in Reading: how it works
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, including signs of standing water, splits and tired upstands. Flat roofs often need attention long before the main roof. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. Common reasons to book are cracked or blistered flat roof coverings and valley linings that have cracked or split, on natural slate, chimney stacks and the roof space.
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos. On timing, most surveys take about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
What you’ll pay
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 98% customer satisfaction
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Landmarks near Caversham
We work in homes and buildings around Eldon Square, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre and Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School and the streets around them. Also close by are The Hill Primary School (within half a mile north-east), Grace Church (within half a mile east) and The White Horse pub (within half a mile north). Caversham’s nearest station is Reading station, about 1.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). For a walk, there’s South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters across Reading
From Caversham, Norcot and West Reading to its smaller places, buildings across Reading have roofs of every age. Chimneys, valleys, flashings and gutters are normally where the work is.
Autumn and winter storms across the South East find any loose slate, tile or ridge. In Reading, as elsewhere, exposed details are where damage shows first.
Caversham: If you own a rental within reach of Reading station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Homes near green spaces such as Eldon Square can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
What this survey can’t tell you
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes. Cracks in a lead valley can send water into the roof.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They last well, but their surface erodes slowly, and they can crack.
Signs you need a roof survey
What’s under the slates or tiles is as important as the coverings themselves. Breathable membranes only appeared in the UK in the late 1990s, so many older roofs have bitumen felt underlay, and some very old roofs have no underlay at all. Torn or sagging felt lets water through.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
Checking the roof from ground level
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Reading
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
FAQs for Reading
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag materials that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How much does a roof survey cost in Reading?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.