Reading · London and the South East
Roof survey in Gallowstree Common, Reading
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Gallowstree Common. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Standing water on a flat roof
Roof survey in Gallowstree Common
Our roof surveys cover Gallowstree Common and the wider South East. We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. You get a written report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. Whether it is a house, a flat or a commercial building, the process is the same. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us. If you’ve noticed water stains on rafters and ceiling joists and valley linings that have cracked or split, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on clay and concrete tiles, flat roofs and chimney stacks alike.
In a small place like Gallowstree Common, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Gallowstree Common (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It usually takes about one to two hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a village or hamlet like Gallowstree Common, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there’s safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Booking a survey
To get a price for roof surveys in Gallowstree Common, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roof coverings
Standing water, blisters and splits all point to wear. Upstands and outlets are checked too.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it often fail long before the slate. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates.
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- File the report with your home documents
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. It’s a chance to ask questions about anything in the report.
Look at your roof from the ground after strong winds. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Getting small faults fixed quickly keeps water out.
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- A full building survey of the property
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Natural slate
Gallowstree Common: your questions answered
Will you come out to Gallowstree Common?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Gallowstree Common?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What does a roof survey include?
All the main parts of the roof: coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies.
How much is a survey?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it is agreed before booking.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the survey is done from ground level, upper windows and the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone where it applies.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Asbestos testing isn’t part of our service. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Gallowstree Common
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Roof surveys around Gallowstree Common
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. About 2.6 miles south-west lies Mapledurham House, a reminder of how long the area around Gallowstree Common has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take an older house close to Church of St John the Baptist: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Gallowstree Common is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Across Reading, we cover Gallowstree Common and the places around it.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof surveys: RG4. If you need a roof survey at a property on Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road or a nearby road, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Cane End (1 mile south-west), Hook End (2 miles north-west), Stoke Row (2 miles north), Checkendon (3 miles north-west) and Woodcote (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Gallowstree Common
In Gallowstree Common, that means homes and buildings near The Reformation pub, Kidmore End Church of England Primary School and The Warwick School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Tilehurst station, about 3.3 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Not far away are Hartslock.
Towns and villages near Gallowstree Common
Also in Gallowstree Common
Common roof problems in Gallowstree Common
Slates and tiles often outlast the fixings that hold them. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot, letting tiles move.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
Landlords with a home close to Tilehurst station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs