Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Shiplake Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof in Shiplake, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Damp on a chimney breast
About our roof leak investigation in Shiplake
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, rooflights and dormers and slate and tile slopes, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks at a dormer or roof window and ceiling stains that grow after rain.
Being in a small place like Shiplake makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: the journey and access are just planned beforehand. 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 photographs of the water coming in, they help as well.
What you get is a clear record of the leaking roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Place
- Shiplake (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes between one and two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Older rural homes like those around Shiplake can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- We check the likely entry points outside, like flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- We email a report with photos, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Leave side gates unlocked
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Prices for roof leak investigations in Shiplake
We confirm the price for the job before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Which survey package you book
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- What made you get in touch
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Shiplake
Historic houses like Greys Court, about 4.1 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Shiplake goes. If yours is one of the older homes, 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. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often 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. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
Take a building like Shiplake Church of England School: tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back. The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
Shiplake is about 3 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. We provide roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Shiplake and nearby. Shiplake is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work.
Every address in RG9 is within our area for roof leak investigations. We also cover Charvil (2 miles south), Twyford (2 miles south-east), Ruscombe (2 miles south-east), Hare Hatch (2 miles east) and The Holt (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
What’s near Shiplake
We work in homes and buildings around The Plough pub, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School and Loddon Nature Reserve, among other places. The closest station to Shiplake is Wargrave station, about 0.9 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.2 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2.1 miles north). The countryside around Shiplake includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Also near Shiplake
What else we do in Shiplake
Questions from Shiplake
Do you cover smaller places like Shiplake?
Yes, Shiplake is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you cover Shiplake?
Yes, Shiplake is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in.
Different roofs, different checks
Slate and tile slopes
Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles let rain onto the underlay. Ageing felt eventually lets water through.
Valleys
Debris in a valley slows the water and pushes it sideways. In heavy rain, it can spill under the edges of the slates or tiles.
When to book a survey in Shiplake
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can push water under the slates or tiles. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
Homes near green spaces such as Loddon Nature Reserve can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Their report turnaround times