Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire
Flat roof surveys around Lower Shiplake, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Water getting in at rooflights
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
Felt and built-up roofs
A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, though quality and upkeep make a big difference. We record how yours is doing and where it is weakest.
How a flat roof survey works in Lower Shiplake
If the house you’re buying has a flat roof on an extension, dormer or garage, it is worth knowing its condition before exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. Our report records the covering, how it’s holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. Common reasons to book are damaged trims at the roof edge and outlets choked with leaves and silt, on GRP fibreglass, single-ply membranes and felt flat roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Lower Shiplake are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
The report records the flat roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Lower Shiplake (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Lower Shiplake
Also in Lower Shiplake
Common questions in Lower Shiplake
Do you cover smaller places like Lower Shiplake?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Lower Shiplake?
Yes, Lower Shiplake is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: on the roof where it is safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Lower Shiplake
Letting agents and landlords in Lower Shiplake book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the flat roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What a survey costs
We confirm the exact price before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The roof’s overall size
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The shape of the roof and its details
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- What made you get in touch
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Local flat roofs in Lower Shiplake
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. Historic houses like Greenlands, about 3.6 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Lower Shiplake goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Shiplake Church of England School, large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. If you own a rental within reach of Shiplake station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Lower Shiplake is about 4 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Lower Shiplake across London and South East England. Lower Shiplake is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. You can also see our page for Reading.
Every address in RG9 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Station Road, Oaks Road and Quarry Lane. Being close to the A4155, Lower Shiplake is easy for us to reach for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Wargrave (1 mile south-east), Cockpole Green (2 miles north-east), Remenham Hill (2 miles north), Bowsey Hill (2 miles east) and Remenham (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (13 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (8 miles south-west) and Oakley (13 miles north).
Near you in Lower Shiplake
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, The Baskerville pub and Mill Meadows, among other places. There is a railway station in Lower Shiplake itself: Shiplake station. Well-known places in the area include Frazer Nash Archives (1.3 miles north) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (5.2 miles south-west). Not far away are South Lake and Sonning Hill.
What we can’t see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Older roofs in small places like Lower Shiplake can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.