West Berkshire · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Compton, West Berkshire
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? You can book a roof leak investigation in Compton and across West Berkshire, with plain-English findings.
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Damp patches next to the stack
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
About our roof leak investigation in Compton
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. If you’ve noticed damp on a chimney breast and wet patches on loft insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Compton, older roofs have often been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, particularly to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Compton (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Compton
Blocked gutters can look like a roof leak. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Are they insured for the work?
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What the survey will not cover
Towns and villages near Compton
Also in Compton
Useful tips for Compton property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
Keep the report after the work is done. If the leak returns, it is a useful record of what was found, which makes the next step quicker.
Plan a roof survey every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys
Stains from a valley leak often show some distance off. We trace the route from the loft where there’s safe access.
Chimney stacks
We look at the outside of the stack and the breast inside, and it is not a flue or gas safety check.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Common questions in Compton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Compton?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Compton?
Yes, Compton is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What affects the price in Compton
To price your survey, we check:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Rural addresses near Compton can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Likely entry points outside are checked, from flashings and valleys to gutters and outlets.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Wind, rain and roofs in Compton
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. 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.
Take a building like Compton C.E. Primary School: tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Compton is about 7 miles south of Didcot, in West Berkshire. If you’re in Compton, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across West Berkshire, we cover Compton. There’s also a page for Reading.
Every address in RG20 is within our area for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Lowbury Gardens and Cheap Street and the roads around them. We also cover East Ilsley (2 miles north-west), Aldworth (2 miles east), Woodway (3 miles north), Blewbury (4 miles north) and Chilton (4 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (9 miles south), Thatcham (8 miles south), Burghfield Common (11 miles south-east), Speenhamland (8 miles south-west), Hungerford (14 miles south-west) and Spencers Wood (15 miles south-east).
Around Compton
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Downs School and The Swan pub and the streets around them. Nearby you will also find Hampstead Norris Castle (2.5 miles south). The countryside around Compton includes Churn Hill.