Wokingham · London and the South East
Roof survey in California, Wokingham
A careful look at the roof at your property in California, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Loose chimney pots
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in California
We survey roofs in California and across London and the South East. We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, and bring 20+ years’ experience. You get a written report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. Houses, flats and commercial buildings all follow the same careful process. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us. We survey lead flashings, the roof space and ridges, hips and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and blocked, sagging or leaking gutters.
Somewhere as small as California, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- California (RG40)
- Region
- Wokingham
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
California homes and their roofs
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For landlords with property near Crowthorne station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Take an older house close to Church of St James: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
California is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Wokingham. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in California can all book roof surveys. California is one of the towns and villages in Wokingham we cover for roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We work across RG40 for roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a roof survey at a property on Warren Lane, White Horse Lane and Fernbank or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around California: Arborfield Garrison (1 mile west), Finchampstead (1 mile south-east), Barkham (1 mile north), Langley Common (1 mile north-west) and Eversley (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Reading (7 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles north-east), Woodley (5 miles north), Earley (5 miles north-west), Crowthorne (3 miles east) and Lower Earley (4 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in California
Around California, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Queen's Oak pub, Bohunt School Wokingham and Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Crowthorne station, about 2.4 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles west) and Wokingham Hospital (2.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near California include Horseshoe Lake and Holt Copse & Joel Park.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
How we price roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
When to book a survey in California
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Strong gusts work at anything that isn’t firmly fixed, while rain gets into every gap. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
People normally book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
Living close to Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Different roofs, different checks
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for cracked, slipped and missing tiles.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Ridge and verge mortar on concrete tile roofs can crack and fall away. We check for loose ridge tiles and missing mortar.
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around California, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- A visit is booked for a weekday or a weekend.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
Also near California
Also in California
When you need someone else
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
Questions from California
Can a landlord with a rental near Crowthorne station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in California?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How much does a roof survey cost in California?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT.
Do you look in the roof space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Photos are included.