diff --git a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/index.md b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/index.md
index 0d16c2974b54..05f844128ad5 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/index.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 /// <reference types="node" />
 
 import { BaseException } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { JsonValue } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { logging } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
 import { Path } from '@angular-devkit/core';
@@ -235,6 +236,10 @@ export class DelegateTree implements Tree_2 {
     // (undocumented)
     read(path: string): Buffer | null;
     // (undocumented)
+    readJson(path: string): JsonValue;
+    // (undocumented)
+    readText(path: string): string;
+    // (undocumented)
     rename(from: string, to: string): void;
     // (undocumented)
     get root(): DirEntry;
@@ -547,6 +552,10 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree_2 {
     // (undocumented)
     read(path: string): Buffer | null;
     // (undocumented)
+    readJson(path: string): JsonValue;
+    // (undocumented)
+    readText(path: string): string;
+    // (undocumented)
     rename(from: string, to: string): void;
     // (undocumented)
     get root(): DirEntry;
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/testing/index.md b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/testing/index.md
index 9358b5a8390a..06e24643a9fe 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/testing/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/testing/index.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 /// <reference types="node" />
 
+import { JsonValue } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { logging } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
 import { Path } from '@angular-devkit/core';
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/tools/index.md b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/tools/index.md
index d968860a625f..b4bf5f2fa17b 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/tools/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/angular_devkit/schematics/tools/index.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 import { BaseException } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { JsonObject } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { JsonValue } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { logging } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
 import { Path } from '@angular-devkit/core';
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/BUILD.bazel b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/BUILD.bazel
index 0cccea0629fc..d9907050747d 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/BUILD.bazel
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ ts_library(
         "//packages/angular_devkit/core",
         "//packages/angular_devkit/core/node",  # TODO: get rid of this for 6.0
         "@npm//@types/node",
+        "@npm//jsonc-parser",
         "@npm//magic-string",
         "@npm//rxjs",
     ],
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/delegate.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/delegate.ts
index 147997964d59..e1fb75b04f04 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/delegate.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/delegate.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import { JsonValue } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Action } from './action';
 import {
   DirEntry,
@@ -35,6 +36,12 @@ export class DelegateTree implements Tree {
   read(path: string): Buffer | null {
     return this._other.read(path);
   }
+  readText(path: string): string {
+    return this._other.readText(path);
+  }
+  readJson(path: string): JsonValue {
+    return this._other.readJson(path);
+  }
   exists(path: string): boolean {
     return this._other.exists(path);
   }
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree.ts
index ba5b6b75f8fb..edcda81b5baf 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {
+  JsonValue,
   Path,
   PathFragment,
   PathIsDirectoryException,
@@ -16,8 +17,10 @@ import {
   normalize,
   virtualFs,
 } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { ParseError, parse as jsoncParse, printParseErrorCode } from 'jsonc-parser';
 import { EMPTY, Observable } from 'rxjs';
 import { concatMap, map, mergeMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { TextDecoder } from 'util';
 import {
   ContentHasMutatedException,
   FileAlreadyExistException,
@@ -162,10 +165,10 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
       return tree._ancestry.has(this._id);
     }
     if (tree instanceof DelegateTree) {
-      return this.isAncestorOf(((tree as unknown) as { _other: Tree })._other);
+      return this.isAncestorOf((tree as unknown as { _other: Tree })._other);
     }
     if (tree instanceof ScopedTree) {
-      return this.isAncestorOf(((tree as unknown) as { _base: Tree })._base);
+      return this.isAncestorOf((tree as unknown as { _base: Tree })._base);
     }
 
     return false;
@@ -206,9 +209,9 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
               throw new MergeConflictException(path);
             }
 
-            this._record.overwrite(path, (content as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
+            this._record.overwrite(path, content as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
           } else {
-            this._record.create(path, (content as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
+            this._record.create(path, content as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
           }
 
           return;
@@ -234,7 +237,7 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
           }
           // We use write here as merge validation has already been done, and we want to let
           // the CordHost do its job.
-          this._record.write(path, (content as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
+          this._record.write(path, content as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
 
           return;
         }
@@ -289,6 +292,42 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
 
     return entry ? entry.content : null;
   }
+
+  readText(path: string): string {
+    const data = this.read(path);
+    if (data === null) {
+      throw new FileDoesNotExistException(path);
+    }
+
+    const decoder = new TextDecoder('utf-8', { fatal: true });
+
+    try {
+      // With the `fatal` option enabled, invalid data will throw a TypeError
+      return decoder.decode(data);
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (e instanceof TypeError) {
+        throw new Error(`Failed to decode "${path}" as UTF-8 text.`);
+      }
+      throw e;
+    }
+  }
+
+  readJson(path: string): JsonValue {
+    const content = this.readText(path);
+    const errors: ParseError[] = [];
+    const result = jsoncParse(content, errors, { allowTrailingComma: true });
+
+    // If there is a parse error throw with the error information
+    if (errors[0]) {
+      const { error, offset } = errors[0];
+      throw new Error(
+        `Failed to parse "${path}" as JSON. ${printParseErrorCode(error)} at offset: ${offset}.`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
   exists(path: string): boolean {
     return this._recordSync.isFile(this._normalizePath(path));
   }
@@ -337,7 +376,7 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
       throw new FileDoesNotExistException(p);
     }
     const c = typeof content == 'string' ? Buffer.from(content) : content;
-    this._record.overwrite(p, (c as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
+    this._record.overwrite(p, c as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
   }
   beginUpdate(path: string): UpdateRecorder {
     const entry = this.get(path);
@@ -371,7 +410,7 @@ export class HostTree implements Tree {
       throw new FileAlreadyExistException(p);
     }
     const c = typeof content == 'string' ? Buffer.from(content) : content;
-    this._record.create(p, (c as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
+    this._record.create(p, c as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer).subscribe();
   }
   delete(path: string): void {
     this._recordSync.delete(this._normalizePath(path));
@@ -476,7 +515,7 @@ export class FilterHostTree extends HostTree {
             return EMPTY;
           }
 
-          return newBackend.write(path, (content as {}) as virtualFs.FileBuffer);
+          return newBackend.write(path, content as {} as virtualFs.FileBuffer);
         }),
       );
     };
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree_spec.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree_spec.ts
index 9c1a499fd8e3..2687ea14e8ed 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/host-tree_spec.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,84 @@ import { FilterHostTree, HostTree } from './host-tree';
 import { MergeStrategy } from './interface';
 
 describe('HostTree', () => {
+  describe('readText', () => {
+    it('returns text when reading a file that exists', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      tree.create('/textfile1', 'abc');
+      tree.create('/textfile2', '123');
+      expect(tree.readText('/textfile1')).toEqual('abc');
+      expect(tree.readText('/textfile2')).toEqual('123');
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error when a file does not exist', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      const path = '/textfile1';
+      expect(() => tree.readText(path)).toThrowError(`Path "${path}" does not exist.`);
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error when invalid UTF-8 characters are present', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      const path = '/textfile1';
+      tree.create(path, Buffer.from([0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff]));
+      expect(() => tree.readText(path)).toThrowError(`Failed to decode "${path}" as UTF-8 text.`);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('readJson', () => {
+    it('returns a JSON value when reading a file that exists', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      tree.create('/textfile1', '{ "a": true, "b": "xyz" }');
+      tree.create('/textfile2', '123');
+      tree.create('/textfile3', 'null');
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile1')).toEqual({ a: true, b: 'xyz' });
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile2')).toEqual(123);
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile3')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('returns a JSON value when reading a file with comments', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      tree.create(
+        '/textfile1',
+        '{ "a": true, /* inner object\nmultiline comment\n */ "b": "xyz" }',
+      );
+      tree.create('/textfile2', '123 // number value');
+      tree.create('/textfile3', 'null // null value');
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile1')).toEqual({ a: true, b: 'xyz' });
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile2')).toEqual(123);
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile3')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('returns a JSON value when reading a file with trailing commas', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      tree.create('/textfile1', '{ "a": true, "b": "xyz", }');
+      tree.create('/textfile2', '[5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ]');
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile1')).toEqual({ a: true, b: 'xyz' });
+      expect(tree.readJson('/textfile2')).toEqual([5, 4, 3, 2, 1]);
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error when a file does not exist', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      const path = '/textfile1';
+      expect(() => tree.readJson(path)).toThrowError(`Path "${path}" does not exist.`);
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error if the JSON is malformed', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      const path = '/textfile1';
+      tree.create(path, '{ "a": true;;;;; "b": "xyz" }');
+      expect(() => tree.readJson(path)).toThrowError(
+        `Failed to parse "${path}" as JSON. InvalidSymbol at offset: 7.`,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error when invalid UTF-8 characters are present', () => {
+      const tree = new HostTree();
+      const path = '/textfile1';
+      tree.create(path, Buffer.from([0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff]));
+      expect(() => tree.readJson(path)).toThrowError(`Failed to decode "${path}" as UTF-8 text.`);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('merge', () => {
     it('should create files from each tree', () => {
       const tree = new HostTree();
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/interface.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/interface.ts
index e05be51aa6a3..87792b659723 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/interface.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/interface.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import { Path, PathFragment } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { JsonValue, Path, PathFragment } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Action } from './action';
 
 export enum MergeStrategy {
@@ -83,6 +83,31 @@ export interface Tree {
 
   // Readonly.
   read(path: string): Buffer | null;
+
+  /**
+   * Reads a file from the Tree as a UTF-8 encoded text file.
+   *
+   * @param path The path of the file to read.
+   * @returns A string containing the contents of the file.
+   * @throws {@link FileDoesNotExistException} if the file is not found.
+   * @throws An error if the file contains invalid UTF-8 characters.
+   */
+  readText(path: string): string;
+
+  /**
+   * Reads and parses a file from the Tree as a UTF-8 encoded JSON file.
+   * Supports parsing JSON (RFC 8259) with the following extensions:
+   * * Single-line and multi-line JavaScript comments
+   * * Trailing commas within objects and arrays
+   *
+   * @param path The path of the file to read.
+   * @returns A JsonValue containing the parsed contents of the file.
+   * @throws {@link FileDoesNotExistException} if the file is not found.
+   * @throws An error if the file contains invalid UTF-8 characters.
+   * @throws An error if the file contains malformed JSON.
+   */
+  readJson(path: string): JsonValue;
+
   exists(path: string): boolean;
   get(path: string): FileEntry | null;
   getDir(path: string): DirEntry;
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/null.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/null.ts
index 48469a3c3370..cbace2bf3211 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/null.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/null.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,15 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import { BaseException, Path, PathFragment, dirname, join, normalize } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import {
+  BaseException,
+  JsonValue,
+  Path,
+  PathFragment,
+  dirname,
+  join,
+  normalize,
+} from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { FileDoesNotExistException } from '../exception/exception';
 import { Action } from './action';
 import { DirEntry, MergeStrategy, Tree, TreeSymbol, UpdateRecorder } from './interface';
@@ -57,6 +65,12 @@ export class NullTree implements Tree {
   read(_path: string) {
     return null;
   }
+  readText(path: string): string {
+    throw new FileDoesNotExistException(path);
+  }
+  readJson(path: string): JsonValue {
+    throw new FileDoesNotExistException(path);
+  }
   get(_path: string) {
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/scoped.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/scoped.ts
index f77af03635a1..205769204439 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/scoped.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics/src/tree/scoped.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {
+  JsonValue,
   NormalizedRoot,
   Path,
   PathFragment,
@@ -113,6 +114,12 @@ export class ScopedTree implements Tree {
   read(path: string): Buffer | null {
     return this._base.read(this._fullPath(path));
   }
+  readText(path: string): string {
+    return this._base.readText(this._fullPath(path));
+  }
+  readJson(path: string): JsonValue {
+    return this._base.readJson(this._fullPath(path));
+  }
   exists(path: string): boolean {
     return this._base.exists(this._fullPath(path));
   }
diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics_cli/blank/factory.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics_cli/blank/factory.ts
index d8eeb16cc3d5..6585ea95b59c 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/schematics_cli/blank/factory.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/schematics_cli/blank/factory.ts
@@ -28,13 +28,9 @@ function addSchematicToCollectionJson(
   description: JsonObject,
 ): Rule {
   return (tree: Tree) => {
-    const collectionJsonContent = tree.read(collectionPath);
-    if (!collectionJsonContent) {
-      throw new Error('Invalid collection path: ' + collectionPath);
-    }
+    const collectionJson = tree.readJson(collectionPath);
 
-    const collectionJson = JSON.parse(collectionJsonContent.toString());
-    if (!isJsonObject(collectionJson.schematics)) {
+    if (!isJsonObject(collectionJson) || !isJsonObject(collectionJson.schematics)) {
       throw new Error('Invalid collection.json; schematics needs to be an object.');
     }
 
@@ -55,16 +51,13 @@ export default function (options: Schema): Rule {
 
     let collectionPath: Path | undefined;
     try {
-      const packageJsonContent = tree.read('/package.json');
-      if (packageJsonContent) {
-        const packageJson = JSON.parse(packageJsonContent.toString()) as {
-          schematics: unknown;
-        };
-        if (typeof packageJson.schematics === 'string') {
-          const p = normalize(packageJson.schematics);
-          if (tree.exists(p)) {
-            collectionPath = p;
-          }
+      const packageJson = tree.readJson('/package.json') as {
+        schematics: unknown;
+      };
+      if (typeof packageJson.schematics === 'string') {
+        const p = normalize(packageJson.schematics);
+        if (tree.exists(p)) {
+          collectionPath = p;
         }
       }
     } catch {}
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/app-shell/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/app-shell/index.ts
index f7caa44cabcf..0e7e966368e9 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/app-shell/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/app-shell/index.ts
@@ -35,11 +35,7 @@ import { BrowserBuilderOptions, Builders, ServerBuilderOptions } from '../utilit
 import { Schema as AppShellOptions } from './schema';
 
 function getSourceFile(host: Tree, path: string): ts.SourceFile {
-  const buffer = host.read(path);
-  if (!buffer) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`Could not find ${path}.`);
-  }
-  const content = buffer.toString();
+  const content = host.readText(path);
   const source = ts.createSourceFile(path, content, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
   return source;
@@ -82,10 +78,9 @@ function getComponentTemplate(host: Tree, compPath: string, tmplInfo: TemplateIn
     const templateUrl = (tmplInfo.templateUrlProp.initializer as ts.StringLiteral).text;
     const dir = dirname(normalize(compPath));
     const templatePath = join(dir, templateUrl);
-    const buffer = host.read(templatePath);
-    if (buffer) {
-      template = buffer.toString();
-    }
+    try {
+      template = host.readText(templatePath);
+    } catch {}
   }
 
   return template;
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/component/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/component/index.ts
index 177b5eac276a..2fbbb7bcb1c0 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/component/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/component/index.ts
@@ -32,11 +32,7 @@ import { buildDefaultPath, getWorkspace } from '../utility/workspace';
 import { Schema as ComponentOptions, Style } from './schema';
 
 function readIntoSourceFile(host: Tree, modulePath: string): ts.SourceFile {
-  const text = host.read(modulePath);
-  if (text === null) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-  }
-  const sourceText = text.toString('utf-8');
+  const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
 
   return ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 }
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/directive/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/directive/index.ts
index 666a181b5b48..4a4a1bdbe8b4 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/directive/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/directive/index.ts
@@ -36,11 +36,7 @@ function addDeclarationToNgModule(options: DirectiveOptions): Rule {
     }
 
     const modulePath = options.module;
-    const text = host.read(modulePath);
-    if (text === null) {
-      throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-    }
-    const sourceText = text.toString('utf-8');
+    const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
     const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
     const directivePath =
@@ -66,11 +62,7 @@ function addDeclarationToNgModule(options: DirectiveOptions): Rule {
 
     if (options.export) {
       // Need to refresh the AST because we overwrote the file in the host.
-      const text = host.read(modulePath);
-      if (text === null) {
-        throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-      }
-      const sourceText = text.toString('utf-8');
+      const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
       const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
       const exportRecorder = host.beginUpdate(modulePath);
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/module/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/module/index.ts
index 4c6840011c25..6c599c418bce 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/module/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/module/index.ts
@@ -55,11 +55,7 @@ function addDeclarationToNgModule(options: ModuleOptions): Rule {
 
     const modulePath = options.module;
 
-    const text = host.read(modulePath);
-    if (text === null) {
-      throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-    }
-    const sourceText = text.toString();
+    const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
     const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
     const relativePath = buildRelativeModulePath(options, modulePath);
@@ -101,12 +97,8 @@ function addRouteDeclarationToNgModule(
       path = options.module;
     }
 
-    const text = host.read(path);
-    if (!text) {
-      throw new Error(`Couldn't find the module nor its routing module.`);
-    }
+    const sourceText = host.readText(path);
 
-    const sourceText = text.toString();
     const addDeclaration = addRouteDeclarationToModule(
       ts.createSourceFile(path, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true),
       path,
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/pipe/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/pipe/index.ts
index e18c432eabc2..e7ab1e7d8e95 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/pipe/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/pipe/index.ts
@@ -35,11 +35,7 @@ function addDeclarationToNgModule(options: PipeOptions): Rule {
     }
 
     const modulePath = options.module;
-    const text = host.read(modulePath);
-    if (text === null) {
-      throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-    }
-    const sourceText = text.toString('utf-8');
+    const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
     const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
     const pipePath =
@@ -63,11 +59,7 @@ function addDeclarationToNgModule(options: PipeOptions): Rule {
     host.commitUpdate(recorder);
 
     if (options.export) {
-      const text = host.read(modulePath);
-      if (text === null) {
-        throw new SchematicsException(`File ${modulePath} does not exist.`);
-      }
-      const sourceText = text.toString('utf-8');
+      const sourceText = host.readText(modulePath);
       const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, sourceText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
       const exportRecorder = host.beginUpdate(modulePath);
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/service-worker/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/service-worker/index.ts
index 774493083855..f35e47019d5f 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/service-worker/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/service-worker/index.ts
@@ -122,11 +122,7 @@ function updateAppModule(mainPath: string): Rule {
 }
 
 function getTsSourceFile(host: Tree, path: string): ts.SourceFile {
-  const buffer = host.read(path);
-  if (!buffer) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`Could not read file (${path}).`);
-  }
-  const content = buffer.toString();
+  const content = host.readText(path);
   const source = ts.createSourceFile(path, content, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
   return source;
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/universal/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/universal/index.ts
index 95fe3d26e93f..c660995305bc 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/universal/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/universal/index.ts
@@ -99,12 +99,7 @@ function updateConfigFile(options: UniversalOptions, tsConfigDirectory: Path): R
 }
 
 function findBrowserModuleImport(host: Tree, modulePath: string): ts.Node {
-  const moduleBuffer = host.read(modulePath);
-  if (!moduleBuffer) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`Module file (${modulePath}) not found`);
-  }
-  const moduleFileText = moduleBuffer.toString('utf-8');
-
+  const moduleFileText = host.readText(modulePath);
   const source = ts.createSourceFile(modulePath, moduleFileText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
   const decoratorMetadata = getDecoratorMetadata(source, 'NgModule', '@angular/core')[0];
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/json-file.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/json-file.ts
index 647199ef848d..6bb532416f2e 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/json-file.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/json-file.ts
@@ -27,12 +27,7 @@ export class JSONFile {
   content: string;
 
   constructor(private readonly host: Tree, private readonly path: string) {
-    const buffer = this.host.read(this.path);
-    if (buffer) {
-      this.content = buffer.toString();
-    } else {
-      throw new Error(`Could not read '${path}'.`);
-    }
+    this.content = this.host.readText(this.path);
   }
 
   private _jsonAst: Node | undefined;
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/ng-ast-utils.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/ng-ast-utils.ts
index e55effeeea17..c0dfb8374b90 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/ng-ast-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/ng-ast-utils.ts
@@ -13,11 +13,7 @@ import * as ts from '../third_party/github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/lib/typescri
 import { findNode, getSourceNodes } from '../utility/ast-utils';
 
 export function findBootstrapModuleCall(host: Tree, mainPath: string): ts.CallExpression | null {
-  const mainBuffer = host.read(mainPath);
-  if (!mainBuffer) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`Main file (${mainPath}) not found`);
-  }
-  const mainText = mainBuffer.toString('utf-8');
+  const mainText = host.readText(mainPath);
   const source = ts.createSourceFile(mainPath, mainText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
 
   const allNodes = getSourceNodes(source);
@@ -58,11 +54,7 @@ export function findBootstrapModulePath(host: Tree, mainPath: string): string {
 
   const bootstrapModule = bootstrapCall.arguments[0];
 
-  const mainBuffer = host.read(mainPath);
-  if (!mainBuffer) {
-    throw new SchematicsException(`Client application main file (${mainPath}) not found`);
-  }
-  const mainText = mainBuffer.toString('utf-8');
+  const mainText = host.readText(mainPath);
   const source = ts.createSourceFile(mainPath, mainText, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true);
   const allNodes = getSourceNodes(source);
   const bootstrapModuleRelativePath = allNodes
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/workspace.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/workspace.ts
index 07bf2c9ffc64..9354f4beab14 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/utility/workspace.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/utility/workspace.ts
@@ -6,19 +6,14 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import { json, virtualFs, workspaces } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { json, workspaces } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { Rule, Tree, noop } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
 import { ProjectType } from './workspace-models';
 
 function createHost(tree: Tree): workspaces.WorkspaceHost {
   return {
     async readFile(path: string): Promise<string> {
-      const data = tree.read(path);
-      if (!data) {
-        throw new Error('File not found.');
-      }
-
-      return virtualFs.fileBufferToString(data);
+      return tree.readText(path);
     },
     async writeFile(path: string, data: string): Promise<void> {
       return tree.overwrite(path, data);
diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/web-worker/index.ts b/packages/schematics/angular/web-worker/index.ts
index bda1d4740887..1e0564045a75 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/web-worker/index.ts
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/web-worker/index.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function addSnippet(options: WebWorkerOptions): Rule {
     `;
 
     // Append the worker creation snippet.
-    const originalContent = host.read(siblingModulePath);
+    const originalContent = host.readText(siblingModulePath);
     host.overwrite(siblingModulePath, originalContent + '\n' + workerCreationSnippet);
 
     return host;