Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Ruscote Roof Survey
A careful look at the roof at your property in Ruscote, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
Roof survey in Ruscote: what you get
Everything we check, we check safely: from ground level, from windows and other vantage points, from inside the loft and from the roof itself where it’s safe. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, for roofs that are hard to see well. You do not need to do anything except give us access. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. If you are worried about slates or tiles that have slipped or broken and debris building up in roof valleys, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and ridges, hips and valleys alike.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Ruscote drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below, and moss holds water against tiles. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Plants growing from a gutter or moss on the tiles are signs worth noting from ground level.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Ruscote (OX16, OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Ruscote
Is my home in Ruscote listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Can a landlord with a rental near Banbury station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Can you look at a roof that is joined to next door?
Yes, the part you own or can give access to. We can only look at neighbouring roofs as far as access allows. Shared stacks and upstands are looked at from your property.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
Not as an exact number, since the fixings, underlay and maintenance all play a part. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.
What does a roof survey include?
Every part of the roof we can safely see: the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and roof space. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
More services for Ruscote
Honest limits
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- A full building survey of the property
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Keep a record of damp patches and dates
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
- Let us know about past leaks
- Have details of recent roof work to hand
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. The photos show what we found and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so often, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and daylight through the roof. Photograph anything new.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes an hour or two at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Homes around Ruscote often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Local roofs in Ruscote
Historic houses like Broughton Castle, about 1.8 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Ruscote goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For businesses in and around places such as Castle Quay Shopping Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you live near a park like People's Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. The streets around a church such as St Paul's Church Centre are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Ruscote is about 1 mile west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Ruscote, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. You can also see our page for Oxford.
We survey roofs across the OX16 and OX15 postcode area for roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets like Abbey Road, Lunnun Road and Bailey Road, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Ruscote, we cover Neithrop (1 mile north), Banbury (1 mile east), Drayton (1 mile north-west), North Newington (1 mile west) and Broughton (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bicester (14 miles south-east), Bure Park (14 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (11 miles south-west), Woodstock (15 miles south), Bloxham (3 miles south) and Charlbury (14 miles south).
Local landmarks in Ruscote
In Ruscote, that means homes and buildings near North Oxfordshire Academy, Admiral Holland pub and Drayton School and the streets around them. Ruscote’s nearest station is Banbury station, roughly 1.5 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation (2.4 miles north-west) and Castle Quay Shopping Centre (1.2 miles east). Open spaces near Ruscote include Farthinghoe Nature Reserve and Crouch Hill.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from the ground. 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.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
For landlords and managing agents
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal chimneys, walls and abutments. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped.
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside often starts with the stack outside. We check the flashings and mortar for the cause.