Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Shiplake, Oxfordshire
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes across Shiplake, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Gutters full of debris and silt
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Shiplake can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We agree which parts of the building you are most worried about.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check pets are kept safely away
Book a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: 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.
Advice
About our gutter survey in Shiplake
Most gutters hang from the fascia boards at the eaves, so fascias and soffits are part of the survey. Long-term overflowing can soften and rot timber boards and stain the soffits below. On buildings from before 2000, some soffits and rainwater goods may be asbestos cement. We don’t carry out asbestos testing, but we flag anything that could contain it. We survey outlets and hoppers, parapet and box gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are joints that drip after rain and brackets that have dropped or snapped.
In a village or hamlet like Shiplake, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can be seen safely, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Shiplake (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a gutter survey looks like in Shiplake
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Greys Court, about 4.1 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shiplake. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For landlords with property near Wargrave station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. If you look after a building such as Shiplake Church of England School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Shiplake is about 3 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Shiplake as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Shiplake.
Gutter surveys in RG9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Charvil (2 miles south), Twyford (2 miles south-east), Ruscombe (2 miles south-east), Hare Hatch (2 miles east) and The Holt (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
Local landmarks in Shiplake
We work in homes and buildings around The Plough pub, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School and Loddon Nature Reserve, among other places. The nearest railway station is Wargrave station, about 0.9 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.2 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2.1 miles north). The countryside around Shiplake includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
What we are asked to look at in Shiplake
Moss grows on many tiled and slate roofs, and rain washes it down into the gutters. With grit from the coverings, it forms a thick sludge that holds water in the gutter and lets weeds take root.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Cracked or loose downpipes
If you live near a park like Loddon Nature Reserve, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
What to check before booking
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their insurance cover
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What happens if roof problems are left?
Climbing a ladder to look in the gutters yourself is risky. You can see drips and overflows from the ground but hidden gutters are another matter. Our survey covers what can be seen safely and records it with photos. Around Shiplake, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 20+ years’ experience
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Package prices that include VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
FAQs for Shiplake
Will you come out to Shiplake?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Wargrave station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Is there a good time of year to book a gutter survey?
There’s no wrong time. If you’ve already seen a gutter overflowing, it’s best not to wait, because the walls take the water.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you test soffits or gutters for asbestos?
No. We don’t test for asbestos. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
For landlords and managing agents
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Landlords and agents in Shiplake book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the gutter.
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Ask for valleys and parapet gutters to be cleared too
- Check that downpipes are firmly fixed to the wall
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
- Book gutter clearing once a year, more often near trees
Where the evidence points to drains below ground, the report says so, so you can arrange a drain survey. We also note anything else we spot on the roof while we are there.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They collect leaves and silt just like eaves gutters but you can’t check them from the street, so ask for them to be included when gutters are cleared.