Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Burford
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for Burford and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Stains around a skylight
- Damp on a chimney breast
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
About our roof leak investigation in Burford
The aim is to find where the water is getting in and explain it. You get a photo-illustrated written report showing the likely entry point and the route the water is taking, and recommends what should be done. Whoever does the work then has a clear starting point. We find and report the source, while the repair is a separate matter. If you’ve noticed wet patches on loft insulation and leaks that appear only in driving rain, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In older homes around places like Burford, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all. Without a sound underlay, any gap in the coverings lets water straight through. Finding where it gets in, and whether it’s old wear or new damage, decides what comes next. In the loft, damp battens or wet insulation are frequently the first clues.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Burford (OX18)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leak rarely stays small. Damp spreads into rafters, ceilings and insulation. Tracing it now means less to put right later. Homes in smaller places like Burford can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Wind, rain and roofs in Burford
About 4.4 miles east lies Minster Lovell Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Burford has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
Take a building like Burford Primary School: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St John the Baptist, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Burford is about 3 miles north-west of Carterton, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Burford and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Roof leak investigations in OX18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include High Street, Lower High Street and Swan Lane, and we cover them all. Burford sits on or near the A40 and A361, so getting to you is simple. We also cover the places around Burford: Fulbrook (1 mile north-east), Little Barrington (3 miles west), Milton-under-Wychwood (4 miles north), Fifield (4 miles north) and Idbury (5 miles north). Further out, we also cover Witney (6 miles east), Carterton (3 miles south-east), Faringdon (11 miles south), Kidlington (15 miles east), Chipping Norton (10 miles north) and Woodstock (13 miles east).
What’s near Burford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Burford School and The Royal Oak Public House. Burford’s nearest station is Shipton station, about 4.5 miles north-east of the centre.
Nearby places to Burford
What else we do in Burford
How we price roof leak investigations
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Roof area
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What we’re asked to look at in Burford
Blocked gutters can look like a roof leak. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, since a blocked outlet sends water over the lining and into the building.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Damp underlay across a wide area
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Burford means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Which limits apply to the survey
- When you will get the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Burford: your questions answered
Will you come out to Burford?
Yes. Burford is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you cover Burford?
Yes, Burford is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
Our job here is to trace the leak and explain it, and the repair is separate. With the report, a roofer knows exactly where to look.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
How the survey works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a smaller place like Burford, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from the ground and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.