Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Temple, Buckinghamshire
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Temple, with photographs and a written report.
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp underlay across a wide area
Roof leak investigation in Temple
Water is good at hiding where it gets in. Water often travels along timbers or underlay before it finds a way down, so a ceiling stain is rarely directly below the cause. Our leak investigation traces it back, one likely route at a time. Patching the spot above the stain often misses the real cause. Tracing the route first means any work can be aimed at the right place. Typical surveys look at damp patches next to the stack and leaks that appear only in driving rain, on lead flashings, slate and tile slopes and the roof space.
For a small place like Temple, 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. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Place
- Temple (SL7)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
How the survey works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Older rural homes like those around Temple can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe vantage point.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Read more
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Temple
Will you come out to Temple?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is my home in Temple listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you look in the loft space?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
It can, when the conditions are right. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
Common roof problems in Temple
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. On slate roofs, slipping is frequently caused by corroded nails.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water that shows only in certain storms
For hotels and guest houses around Temple, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What insurance they carry
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
Useful tips for Temple property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Move stored items away from the hatch
If condensation is the cause, we explain it, and suggest how the loft space could be better ventilated. That avoids roof work that wouldn’t help.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially in autumn. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Use a professional rather than climbing up yourself.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Some roofs have mortar where you’d expect lead. Fillets crack and pull away over time, and water runs down behind them.
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely, and look for signs of past overflowing.
Roof leak investigations around Temple
The wider area around Temple has a long history of building, with Harleyford Manor about 0.9 miles west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
For landlords with property near Marlow station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. If you look after a building such as Bisham Church of England Academy, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Temple is about 2 miles south of Marlow, in Buckinghamshire. We visit Temple as part of our work across Buckinghamshire, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Temple is one of the towns and villages in Buckinghamshire where we work for roof leak investigations. Reading is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the SL7 postcode area for roof leak investigations. We offer roof leak investigations to properties on Temple Lane, Bradenham Lane and Temple Mill Island. If you’re just outside Temple, we cover Bisham (1 mile north-east), Marlow (2 miles north), Stubbings (2 miles south), Cookham Dean (2 miles east) and Burchett's Green (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover High Wycombe (6 miles north), Chesham (13 miles north-east), Amersham (12 miles north-east), Beaconsfield (7 miles north-east), Chalfont St Peter (11 miles east) and Princes Risborough (12 miles north).
Near you in Temple
In Temple, that means homes and buildings near Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and The Bull Inn, among other places. The nearest railway station is Marlow station, about 1.6 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Marlow Community Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Marlow Museum (1.2 miles north-east). Not far away are Carpenter's Wood and Weycock Hill.