West Berkshire · London and the South East
Roof survey in Earlstone Common, West Berkshire
Roof surveys in Earlstone Common, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Earlstone Common
The report is written for you, in plain language. Each defect is described with photographs and a recommendation, and we rank them by urgency where that helps. With the Standard Survey you also get moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and a same-day report. Each report is emailed to you. If you are worried about loose chimney pots and blocked, sagging or leaking gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older buildings in small places like Earlstone Common may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Earlstone Common (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Inside the roof space, we check what’s under the slates. There may be old felt underlay, or none at all on very old roofs.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Mortar at ridges and verges often cracks on tiled roofs. We check for loose ridge tiles and missing mortar, as wind can lift them.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Keep the report with your property records
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Let us know about past leaks
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. The photos show what we found and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Plan a roof survey every few years, or sooner after severe weather. Regular checks catch problems while they’re small. Each report gives a record to compare against.
Also near Earlstone Common
Other services in Earlstone Common
Landlords, agents and block managers in Earlstone Common
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
What a roof survey looks like in Earlstone Common
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Homes near green spaces like Sandleford Priory can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of the Ascension, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Earlstone Common is about 3 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. We visit Earlstone Common as part of our work across West Berkshire, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Earlstone Common is one of the places in West Berkshire where we work for roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
Here we cover the RG20 postcode area for roof surveys. We also 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
Local landmarks in Earlstone Common
Around Earlstone Common, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Burghclere Primary School, Horris Hill School and Sandleford Priory. The closest station to Earlstone Common is Newbury station, roughly 3 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.2 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.8 miles north). For a walk, there’s Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Common roof problems in Earlstone Common
The underlay under the coverings matters too. Breathable membranes only appeared in the UK in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt, and very old ones may have none. Felt that has torn or perished stops doing its job.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
If you own a rental within reach of Newbury station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey normally takes an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Earlstone Common frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
FAQs for Earlstone Common
Will you come out to Earlstone Common?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is my home in Earlstone Common listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft. The Premium Survey adds a drone where applicable.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It doesn’t include structural calculations, which need an engineer.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.