West Berkshire · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Sheepdrove, West Berkshire
Gutter surveys in Sheepdrove, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
How a gutter survey works in Sheepdrove
We check the rainwater system above ground level: gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows. It isn’t a CCTV drain survey and we cannot see inside buried drains. If the problem looks like a blocked or broken drain below ground, the report will say so, with a suggestion to book a separate drain survey. Anything we find above ground, such as a split hopper or a leaking downpipe, is photographed and recorded. We survey valley gutters, outlets and hoppers and downpipes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are gutters that have fallen out of line and rotten fascias or stained soffits.
In a village or hamlet like Sheepdrove, 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Sheepdrove (RG17)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Cast iron gutters
A good many period homes still have cast iron rainwater goods. Kept painted, they can last a long time but corrode once the paint wears off.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. A split lining can leak straight into the building.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Sheepdrove
A dripping joint or sagging bracket won’t get better on its own. Every downpour adds to the damage, on walls, timber and sometimes inside. Getting it surveyed now shows what needs attention first. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Sheepdrove, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why us?
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Nearby places to Sheepdrove
Other services in Sheepdrove
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Book gutter clearing once a year, more frequently near trees
- Make sure downpipe clips are holding
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
- Do not leave hidden gutters out of a clear-out
Once work is carried out, keep an eye on the gutters in the next downpour. Water should run to the outlets and away without spilling over. If it does not, tell whoever did the work.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. They tend to get worse and spilled water harms brickwork and woodwork.
Sheepdrove questions
How do I find out if my home in Sheepdrove is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Sheepdrove?
Yes, Sheepdrove is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Does the season matter for a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems often show up after heavy rain.
Are hidden gutters like valleys and box gutters included?
Yes, where it’s safe to see them. We look from vantage points, the roof space and the roof itself where safe and a drone where it applies.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
How much is a gutter survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The size of the property and the access affect the price. For a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in.
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around Sheepdrove can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First, we agree the areas to focus on.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Preparing for the visit
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What a gutter survey looks like in Sheepdrove
Historic houses such as Ashdown House, about 3.9 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Sheepdrove goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take an older house close to Church of St Michael and All Angels: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Sheepdrove is about 6 miles south-west of Wantage, in West Berkshire. Anywhere in Sheepdrove, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire, large and small. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Gutter surveys in RG17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover Lambourn (1 mile south-west), Upper Lambourn (2 miles west), Sparsholt (5 miles north), Westcot (5 miles north) and Kingston Lisle (5 miles north). Further out, we also cover Newbury (12 miles south-east), Thatcham (14 miles south-east), Speenhamland (11 miles south-east), Hungerford (7 miles south), Shaw (11 miles south-east) and Wash Common (12 miles south-east).
What’s near Sheepdrove
Open spaces near Sheepdrove include Rams Hill and Seven Barrows.