Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Hardwick, Oxfordshire
Independent roof leak investigations in Hardwick. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Wind, rain and roofs in Hardwick
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings frequently carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
Landlords with a home close to Bicester North station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Hardwick is about 4 miles north of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. In Hardwick, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
We work across OX27 for roof leak investigations. If you’re just outside Hardwick, we cover Hethe (1 mile east), Stoke Lyne (1 mile south-west), Fringford (2 miles east), Bucknell (3 miles south-west) and Stratton Audley (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south), Kidlington (11 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles south) and Bure Park (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Hardwick
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Whitmore Arms Public House. For rail, the closest station is Bicester North station, about 4.2 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Ardley Castle (2.8 miles south-west) and Bicester Community Hospital (4.6 miles south).
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Hardwick
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Common reasons to book are leaks that appear only in driving rain and leaks below a flat extension roof, on flat roof details, valleys and parapet gutters and lead flashings.
For a small place like Hardwick, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It is useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, plus any earlier repairs. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Hardwick (OX27)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Hardwick
- Chimney stacks
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
When to book a survey in Hardwick
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can send that water under the coverings. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys
A valley leak can appear well away from the valley inside. We trace the route from the loft where there’s safe access.
Slate and tile slopes
‘Nail fatigue’ is a common cause of slipped slates. One slipped slate can be enough to cause a leak, especially in driving rain.
Why act early in Hardwick
If a leak has been ‘fixed’ before and has come back, the cause was probably missed. A careful investigation looks at every likely route, not just the obvious one. That is frequently what breaks the cycle. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Hardwick, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Weekday and weekend surveys
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older rural homes like those around Hardwick 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 get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the loft space above it.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
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Your questions about roof leak investigations in Hardwick
Will you come out to Hardwick?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you cover Hardwick?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Is the repair included in the leak investigation?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair isn’t part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
It is a common question. A leak typically shows in one area and follows rain, while condensation is often spread out and worse in cold weather. We tell you which it is most likely to be.