Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Tilehurst Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Tilehurst, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
Roof leak investigation in Tilehurst: what you get
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Wind-driven rain, an overflowing gutter or snow melt may be what triggers it. 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, like tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. We survey flat roof details, the roof space and valleys and parapet gutters, and the problems we are asked to look at most are staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall and condensation that looks like a leak.
Older cottages and houses around Tilehurst may have roofs with little or no underlay. Once the slates or tiles let water past, there is little to stop it reaching the ceiling. Whether it’s long-term wear or recent damage makes a difference to what happens next. Wet battens and insulation in the loft are frequently the first clue.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Tilehurst (RG31, RG30)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Leave roof access to professionals
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes one in person. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
How we price roof leak investigations
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How big the roof is
- Building height and the viewpoints available
All our prices include VAT. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Anything about access we should know
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- What made you get in touch
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Common questions in Tilehurst
Do you cover Tilehurst?
Yes, Tilehurst is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Tilehurst?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Why is not the leak directly above the stain?
Because water travels. It runs along rafters, battens or underlay before it drips, so the stain may be some distance from where it gets in. That’s why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
In many cases, yes. Leaks leave clues, like staining, damp timber and moisture in materials. Intermittent leaks can be harder, so your photos and notes from wet days are very useful.
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
How it works
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Parking around Tilehurst is normally easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- You tell us where the water shows and when it appears.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Towns and villages near Tilehurst
Other services in Tilehurst
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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 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 applicable.
Roof leak investigations in Tilehurst: local notes
The wider area around Tilehurst has a long history of building, with Mapledurham House about 1.6 miles north. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed.
For businesses in and around places such as Broad Street Mall, a quick answer on where water is coming in keeps a business running. Landlords with a home close to Tilehurst station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Tilehurst Methodist Church, leaks on older roofs frequently start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Tilehurst is about 3 miles west of Reading, in Oxfordshire. Tilehurst is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Tilehurst is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for roof leak investigations.
Here we cover the RG31 and RG30 postcode area for roof leak investigations. We cover properties on Ash Road, Tyle Road and Riley Road and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Tilehurst Within (1 mile south-east), Norcot (1 mile east), Little Heath (1 mile west), Horncastle (1 mile south-east) and Purley on Thames (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (14 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles north-east), Benson (11 miles north), Wallingford (10 miles north-west), Great Western Park (14 miles north-west) and Watlington (13 miles north).
Near you in Tilehurst
Around Tilehurst, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Round Copse, The Butchers Arms and Little Heath School. For rail, the closest station is Tilehurst station, roughly 0.8 miles north. A little further out are Battle Hospital (1.7 miles east) and Broad Street Mall (2.6 miles east). Open spaces near Tilehurst include South Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
What we look for on each type of roof
Slate and tile slopes
Cracked mortar lets ridge and hip tiles move. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
Chimney stacks
Water that gets in at the top can show up lower down. Unused flues with open pots can let rain straight in.