Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in West Hanney
Roof leak investigations in West Hanney and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
About our roof leak investigation in West Hanney
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is part of the Premium Survey, and moisture detection comes with Standard. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. If you are worried about ceiling stains that grow after rain and water dripping from rafters or underlay, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Roofs in small places like West Hanney often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- West Hanney (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in West Hanney
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. About 4.2 miles north lies Longworth House, a reminder of how long the area around West Hanney has been built on. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St James, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
West Hanney is about 3 miles north of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in West Hanney can all book roof leak investigations. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. Oxford is in our area too.
All of OX12 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Main Street, The Croft and School Road and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Lyford (1 mile north-west), Denchworth (2 miles south-west), Grove (2 miles south), Charney Bassett (2 miles north-west) and Kingston Bagpuize (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Oxford (11 miles north-east), Didcot (7 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles north-east), Witney (11 miles north), Carterton (12 miles north-west) and Wantage (3 miles south).
Near you in West Hanney
Around West Hanney, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Black Horse pub and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include Abingdon Community Hospital (5.4 miles north-east) and Hinton Waldrist Castle (4.3 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Chain Hill and Letcombe Valley.
Nearby places to West Hanney
What else we do in West Hanney
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 can’t cover:
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- A structural engineer’s report
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Valleys and parapet gutters
How it works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Around West Hanney, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around 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 viewpoint.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
Your questions about roof leak investigations in West Hanney
Is West Hanney in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in West Hanney as anywhere else.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in West Hanney?
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.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
Thermal imaging is used where it’s useful, and it is included in our Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so anything it suggests is checked with moisture readings.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a pitched roof it often runs down a rafter before it finds a way through the ceiling. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
This service finds and reports the cause, and the repair is separate. The report gives any roofer a clear brief.
Could my leak actually be condensation?
Condensation can look very like a leak. Widespread damp on the underside of the roof in cold weather, with blocked vents, suggests condensation. We check the pattern, take moisture readings and tell you which is more likely.
When to book a survey in West Hanney
Blocked gutters can look like a roof leak. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
Anyone responsible for a site like St James Church of England Primary School will know that a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What insurance they carry
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How soon the report will arrive
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in West Hanney and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside frequently starts at the top of the stack. Open, unused pots let rain fall down the flue.
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely, and look for signs of past overflowing.
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.