Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Fingest
We carry out roof leak investigations in Fingest and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Roof leak investigation in Fingest
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. A central valley gutter on a butterfly roof often turns out to be the source in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are checked from wherever it is safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. Common reasons to book are damp on a chimney breast and leaks below a flat extension roof, across flat roof details, the roof space and valleys and parapet gutters.
For a small place like Fingest, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Let us know where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, along with any repairs done before. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Fingest (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Fingest
Do you cover Fingest?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Fingest as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Fingest?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Fingest
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Roof area
- House, block, shop or office
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The kind of building and roof involved
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Fingest roofs and the weather
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. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. Stonor Park, about 2.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fingest. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you let a flat or house near Saunderton station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Bartholomew, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Fingest is about 5 miles north-west of Marlow, in Oxfordshire. We provide roof leak investigations for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Fingest and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We cover every part of the RG9 postcode area for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. We also cover the places around Fingest: Turville (1 mile west), Little Frieth (1 mile south-east), Cadmore End (1 mile north-east), Frieth (1 mile south-east) and Bolter End (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Thame (10 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles south), Benson (10 miles west), Chinnor (6 miles north), Tilehurst (13 miles south-west) and Wallingford (11 miles west).
What’s near Fingest
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Chequers Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Saunderton station, about 4.8 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Wycombe Hospital (5.4 miles east). For a walk, there is Warburg Nature Reserve and Bald Hill.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Do not touch fittings that water is reaching
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Stay off ladders and the roof
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and catching wear early keeps water out.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Fingest?
Valleys carry a lot of water. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can push water under the slates or tiles. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
If you look after a building such as Cadmore End CofE School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their track record with similar roofs
Places near Fingest
Other services in Fingest
What we can’t see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Fingest
- The roof space
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the leaking roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a small place like Fingest, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Check pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Why get it checked now?
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. For older village homes like those around Fingest, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- A written report with photographs
- 20+ years’ experience
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.