Reading · London and the South East
Gallowstree Common Storm Damage Roof Report
An independent record of roof damage after a storm across Gallowstree Common, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Gutters pulled loose in the wind
- Lifted or missing ridge and hip tiles
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Don’t go onto the roof to take pictures
- Report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can
- File receipts for anything you pay for
- Record any water damage in rooms and the loft
The report is emailed to you, and you decide what to send to your insurer. We don’t deal with the insurer on your behalf.
After a storm, look at the roof from the street or garden. With binoculars, you can often spot problems without climbing. Never climb onto the roof yourself.
Storm damage roof report in Gallowstree Common: what you get
The Financial Ombudsman looks at three things when it considers a storm damage complaint: were there storm conditions on or around the date, is the damage consistent with a storm, and was the storm the main cause. Our report focuses on the second and third points. Weather records for the date are for you or your insurer to check. We survey ridges and hips, gutters and fascias and slate and tile slopes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are slates and tiles blown off the roof and water coming in after the storm.
Somewhere as small as Gallowstree Common, older roofs have often been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We check everything that’s safely in view and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it is worth finding the cause soon.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Gallowstree Common (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Gallowstree Common
Knowing whether older wear played a part helps you understand your position. Our report gives an honest view of both, so you know what the roof shows. For older village homes like those around Gallowstree Common, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- A written report with photos
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Do you need a storm damage roof report in Gallowstree Common?
Branches and trees often come down on roofs during storms. We record the damage and where it is, backed up with photos.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Flashings pulled away from walls or stacks
- Lifted or missing ridge and hip tiles
- Loose or broken chimney pots and cowls
- Damaged gutters and fascias
For landlords with property near Tilehurst station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether VAT is added on top
Gallowstree Common: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Gallowstree Common is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Gallowstree Common within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Is there a set wind speed for storm damage?
Each policy has its own definition. Many treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, but check your own wording.
Should I go up on the roof to take photos?
Only from the ground or from windows. Do not use a ladder or go onto the roof. Binoculars can help you see damage from below and we will inspect the rest from safe positions.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to.
My storm claim was turned down. What now?
Start by complaining to the insurer. If it isn’t resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help. The Ombudsman asks about storm conditions, whether the damage is consistent with a storm and whether the storm was the main cause.
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Which survey package you book
- Roof area
- Height and safe access
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
What to tell us when you get in touch
There’s no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Nearby places to Gallowstree Common
More services for Gallowstree Common
Gallowstree Common roofs and the weather
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. Mapledurham House, about 2.6 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Gallowstree Common. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to Church of St John the Baptist: the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Gallowstree Common gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Gallowstree Common is one of the places in Reading where we work.
We work across RG4 for storm damage roof reports and the streets around it. We cover properties on Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for storm damage roof reports include 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).
Near you in Gallowstree Common
We work in homes and buildings around The Reformation pub, Kidmore End Church of England Primary School and The Warwick School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Tilehurst station, about 3.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Not far away are Hartslock.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere like Gallowstree Common needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- First we go through when the storm hit and what you’ve noticed.
- We check the roof from wherever it is safe.
- We record and photograph the damage.
- The report notes whether the damage fits a storm, older wear or both.
- You get a written report to pass to your insurer.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.