Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Bicester
Find out the condition of the leaking roof at your property in Bicester. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
Leaks and storm damage in Bicester
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
If you look after a building such as Brookside Primary School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Edburg, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Bicester is about 11 miles north of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Bicester, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Oxford is in our area too.
We survey roofs across OX26 and OX27 for roof leak investigations. Local streets include Market Square, Market End Way and London Road, all of which we cover. Bicester is on the A4095 and B4100, so it’s easy for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Bure Park (1 mile north), Caversfield (1 mile north), Bucknell (2 miles north-west), Stratton Audley (3 miles north-east) and Stoke Lyne (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Oxford (11 miles south), Banbury (14 miles north-west), Thame (13 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (10 miles south) and St John Street area (11 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Oxfordshire, Bicester has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Around Bicester
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bicester Technology Studio and The Plough pub, among other places. Bicester has its own railway station: Bicester North station. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (within half a mile south) and Bicester Village (0.7 miles south). For a walk, there is Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
Roof leak investigation in Bicester
Flat roofs leak in their own ways. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We check the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. We survey flat roof details, chimney stacks and lead flashings, and people most frequently book us about a leak that comes and goes with the weather and drips in the loft during heavy rain.
Strong winds lift loose tiles, slates and ridge pieces in towns like Bicester as anywhere. Many policies treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, though it varies. A report setting out the damage, with photos, helps you explain what you’ve found. Policies normally exclude wear and tear, which is why the age of the damage matters.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Place
- Bicester (OX26, OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Bicester
What else we do in Bicester
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Height and safe access
- Which survey package you book
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
What to let us know when you contact us
These details help when you get in touch:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Common questions in Bicester
How do I find out if my home in Bicester is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is there anything to prepare before you come to Bicester?
Mostly, it’s about access: the loft hatch, any locked gates and where to park in Bicester. Let us know about known leaks or past repairs as well.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What should I do before you arrive?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing, and take photos. Clear access to the loft. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Do you work in Bicester?
Yes. We cover Bicester and the rest of Oxfordshire. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
The survey, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. For a home in Bicester, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. If you will not be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the roof space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from each safe vantage point.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
We confirm the price for the job before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Useful tips for Bicester property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Take dated photos of the leak
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Check the loft after heavy rain, with care and a good torch. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
What we are asked to look at in Bicester
A gutter that overflows can soak a wall and mark the ceiling inside. Hidden gutters behind parapets cause the most trouble, since a blocked outlet sends water over the lining and into the building.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
If you let a flat or house near Bicester North station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Surveys for landlords and agents in Bicester
Landlords, agents and building managers in Bicester and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.