West Berkshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in East Shefford
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for East Shefford, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Stains around a skylight
- Water that shows only in certain storms
East Shefford questions
Will you come out to East Shefford?
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 when booking.
How do I find out if my home in East Shefford is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
What should I do before you arrive?
Check the loft can be reached. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. In the meantime, catch the water and keep it clear of lights and sockets.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
Our job here is to trace the leak and explain it, not to carry out the repair. The report gives any roofer a clear brief.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Roof leak investigation in East Shefford: what you get
Some ‘leaks’ aren’t leaks at all. Condensation in a cold, poorly ventilated loft can drip from nails and timbers, leaving marks that look just like rainwater. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, because they need very different work. We look at the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. We are frequently asked to look into a leak that comes and goes with the weather and wet patches on loft insulation, on chimney stacks, valleys and parapet gutters and rooflights and dormers.
Somewhere as small as East Shefford, older roofs have frequently been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We check what can safely be seen and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- East Shefford (RG17, RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we’re asked to look at in East Shefford
Flashings are one of the commonest sources of roof leaks. Lead or mortar closes the gap wherever a roof meets a wall, chimney or dormer. Once that seal cracks or lifts, water gets behind it.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Shefford C.E. Primary School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Leave it or get it looked at?
Water damage grows the longer it’s left. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like East Shefford, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in East Shefford
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Leaks and storm damage in East Shefford
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
If you own a rental within reach of Kintbury station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Thomas' Church, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
East Shefford is about 7 miles north-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Surveys in East Shefford work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Berkshire, we cover East Shefford and the places around it. You can also see our page for Reading.
Surveys in RG17 and RG20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to East Shefford include Great Shefford (1 mile north-west), Weston (1 mile south-east), Wickham (2 miles south), Shefford Woodlands (2 miles south-west) and East Garston (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (7 miles south-east), Thatcham (9 miles south-east), Speenhamland (7 miles south-east), Hungerford (5 miles south-west), Lambourn (5 miles north-west) and Shaw (7 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in East Shefford
The nearest railway station is Kintbury station, about 4.7 miles south. Green spaces nearby include Sole Common Pond.
Prices for roof leak investigations in East Shefford
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The roof’s overall size
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
We look at the outside of the stack and the breast inside, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection.
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Outlets drain a flat roof. When one blocks, water ponds and finds any weak spot. Outlets and the area around them are looked at.
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What happens on the day
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around East Shefford can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Outside, we check every likely route in.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in East Shefford
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in East Shefford. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.