Reading · London and the South East
Roof survey in Caversham, Reading
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Caversham, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Caversham
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages often have flat roofs in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. A flat roof normally wears out sooner than a pitched one. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. We survey natural slate, the roof space and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are gaps in the roof where coverings have gone and torn or sagging underlay.
Around Caversham, semis and terraces share chimneys, gutters and roof lines with the house next door. When a stack or gutter is shared, the problem may not be on your side alone. Shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen safely from the property we are surveying. Let us know when booking if you know of anything shared with next door.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Caversham (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Many roofs go years without anyone looking at them closely. A survey sets a baseline, so you can compare it next time. Around Caversham, gutters that overflow soak the wall below, and damp follows inside. A slipped tile or worn flashing does the same higher up. Neither gets better on its own.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Why us?
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- An independent view of the roof
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Also near Caversham
Other services in Caversham
How the survey works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. For a visit in Caversham, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. If there’s a side gate or a rear garden, let us know how to reach it. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Common questions in Caversham
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Reading station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Is my home in Caversham 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.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
We don’t give a number of years. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, with recommendations ranked by urgency.
How much is a survey?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, and it is agreed before booking.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
What a roof survey looks like in Caversham
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. About 3 miles west lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Caversham has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
Living close to Eldon Square is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Take an older house close to Grace Church: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. 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.
Caversham is about 2 miles north of Reading, in Reading. In Caversham, as across Reading, every roof gets the same careful survey. Caversham is one of the places in Reading we cover.
Here we cover the RG4 postcode area for roof surveys. We cover properties on Marshland Square, Church Road and Buckingham Gate. You will find Caversham on the B3345, so it’s easy for us to get to. Other places close to Caversham include Emmer Green (1 mile north-east), Caversham Park Village (1 mile north-east), Lower Caversham (1 mile south), Caversham Heights (1 mile west) and Littlestead Green (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Norcot (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (3 miles south-west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Horncastle (3 miles south-west) and Whitley Wood (4 miles south). Being one of Reading’s larger places, Caversham has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Caversham
We work in homes and buildings around Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School, The White Horse pub and Eldon Square. The closest station to Caversham is Reading station, roughly 1.3 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). Open spaces near Caversham include South Lake and Sonning Hill.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof coverings
Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber often lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30. We check its condition and the signs of age.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.