Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Shippon, Oxfordshire
Tracing where water is getting into your roof in Shippon, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Roof leak investigation in Shippon: what you get
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Driving rain from one direction, melting snow or a gutter that overflows in a downpour can all set it off. Notes on when it leaks, and what the weather was doing, help us, along with any photos you’ve taken. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. We survey slate and tile slopes, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roof details, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall and water coming in around a roof light or dormer.
In a village or hamlet like Shippon, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially 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. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Shippon (OX13)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Shippon
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shippon?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you come out to Shippon?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Why does not the damp patch line up with the hole?
Water rarely drops straight down. It can follow a timber or the underlay a long way first, so the entry point is often well away from the mark. That is why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
What should I do before you arrive?
Clear the loft hatch so we can get into the roof space. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
Why it is worth a survey now in Shippon
A leak near lights or wiring needs attention quickly. If water is reaching a light fitting or switch, keep clear of it. Then the source needs tracing. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Shippon, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Surveys seven days a week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Shippon, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- We check the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, like flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Shippon
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Towns and villages near Shippon
More services for Shippon
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Some roofs have mortar where you’d expect lead. They crack as the roof and wall move, and water runs down behind them.
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Each flat roof relies on its outlets to drain. A blocked outlet leaves water standing, which tests every joint. We check outlets and the covering around them.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Shippon
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The size of the roof
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Booking your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Shippon
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. About 3.1 miles north-west lies Appleton Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Shippon has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary Magdalene, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Larkmead School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. Homes near green spaces such as Albert Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
Shippon is about 1 mile west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Shippon, the roof can be surveyed. Shippon is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
We work across the OX13 postcode area for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Chestnut Tree Close, Willow Tree Close and Whitehouse Close or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Cothill (1 mile north-west), Dry Sandford (2 miles north-west), Marcham (2 miles south-west), Sutton Wick (2 miles south) and Frilford Heath (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (6 miles north-east), Didcot (6 miles south-east), Witney (11 miles north-west), Carterton (14 miles north-west), Thame (15 miles east) and Wantage (8 miles south-west).
What’s near Shippon
In Shippon, that means homes and buildings near St Nicolas Church of England Primary School, Prince Of Wales pub and Albert Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Radley station, roughly 2.8 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Abingdon Community Hospital (0.8 miles south) and FitzHarris Castle (1 mile south-east). Open spaces near Shippon include Cumnor Hill and Dry Sandford Pit.