Reading · London and the South East
Play Hatch Roof Survey
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Play Hatch, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
How a roof survey works in Play Hatch
Good roofs last decades, but their parts wear at different rates. Slate often lasts a century or more, and tiles commonly half a century, yet nails, battens and underlay often fail first. A survey shows which parts of your roof are wearing. Knowing that helps you plan work before it becomes urgent. If you are worried about leaking gutter joints and downpipes and slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Play Hatch, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Play Hatch (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Play Hatch questions
Do you cover smaller places like Play Hatch?
Yes, Play Hatch is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can a landlord with a rental near Reading 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.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
How long does a roof survey take?
Allow about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you as you book.
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Mention any flat roofs as well as the main roof
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
- Keep the report with your property records
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It shows how the roof has fared over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Have gutters and valleys cleared regularly, ideally after the leaves have fallen. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Clear gutters prevent a lot of damp.
Nearby places to Play Hatch
Also in Play Hatch
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Play Hatch
With Mapledurham House about 4.4 miles west, Play Hatch sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Take a building like St Martin's Catholic Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Shop and office owners around The Oracle may find that a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We provide roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Play Hatch and the surrounding area. Play Hatch is one of the towns and villages in Reading we cover.
Here we cover the RG4 postcode area for roof surveys. Whether your property is on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Play Hatch include Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
What’s near Play Hatch
We work in homes and buildings around Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading Blue Coat School and The Shoulder of Mutton pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Not far away are Alder Moors and South Lake.
When to book a survey in Play Hatch
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while rain gets into every gap. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
For landlords with property near Reading station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
What to check before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What follow-up you get after the report
How it works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Somewhere like Play Hatch needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You let us know 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 viewpoint outside.
- We then look in the loft for damp, staining and the condition of the underlay.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Booking a survey
To get a price for roof surveys in Play Hatch, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
What affects the cost of roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Which survey package you book
- Roof area
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Many roofs go years without anyone looking at them closely. A survey sets a baseline, which makes later changes easy to spot. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Play Hatch, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
For a price for your roof in Play Hatch, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Play Hatch
- 20+ years’ experience
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read our cost guide and our case studies.