Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Storm damage roof report in Cowley, Oxfordshire
Storm damage roof reports in Cowley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Lead lifted at abutments
- Cowls or aerials dislodged in the wind
- New damp or leaks inside
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes about one to two hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Cowley is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start with the details: when the storm hit and what damage you can see.
- We view the roof from wherever it can be seen safely, including the loft where there’s access.
- We photograph and record every area of damage we can see.
- We look at whether the damage fits storm damage, older wear or both.
- We send you a written report with photos, ready to give to your insurer.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
How a storm damage roof report works in Cowley
The Financial Ombudsman asks three questions when it looks at storm complaints: whether there were storm conditions around the date, whether the damage fits a storm, and whether the storm was the main cause. Our report focuses on the second and third points. Weather records for the date are for you or your insurer to check. If you’ve noticed loose or torn flashings and holes or cracks caused by debris, we can find out what’s behind it.
Houses in smaller places like Cowley can stand more in the open, where driving rain gets into any gap at a ridge, verge or flashing. A leak that only appears in certain weather often points to an exposed detail. It’s useful to know when and where the water appears. Gutters and downpipes on the exposed side are worth a look as well.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Cowley (OX4, OX3)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Record any water damage in rooms and the loft
- Read your policy wording on storm damage
- Keep any slates, tiles or debris that fall, if it is safe to do so
- Photograph the damage safely from below
If a claim is declined and you disagree, the first step is a complaint to the insurer. If that does not resolve it, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help.
Keep gutters and outlets clear so heavy rain can drain away. Blocked drainage can add water damage to wind damage.
Towns and villages near Cowley
Other services in Cowley
Cowley roofs and the weather
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. Historic houses like Holywell Manor, about 2.1 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Cowley goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you look after a building such as Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. If you own a rental within reach of Oxford station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. Homes near green spaces such as South Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Cowley is about 1 mile south-east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We provide storm damage roof reports for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Cowley and nearby. Cowley is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for storm damage roof reports.
Postcode districts we cover here for storm damage roof reports: OX4 and OX3. We cover properties on Barns Road, Marsh Road and Clive Road. If you are just outside Cowley, we cover Iffley (1 mile west), Blackbird Leys (1 mile south), Donnington (1 mile north-west), Littlemore (1 mile south-west) and Oxford (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Didcot (9 miles south), Bicester (12 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (5 miles south-west), Witney (12 miles west), Thame (10 miles east) and Wantage (13 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Cowley
In Cowley, that means homes and buildings near The Nelson pub, South Park and Emmanuel Christian School. Other local landmarks include Greyfriars Catholic School (0.6 miles north-west) and Alexander Library of Ornithology (1.9 miles north-west). The closest station to Cowley is Oxford station, about 2.7 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Templars Square (less than half a mile south-west) and British Tattoo History Museum (0.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Headington Hill and CS Lewis Nature Reserve.
Why act early in Cowley
Leaving storm damage can let water into the roof space and rooms below. That can add to the damage and make it harder to separate from the storm. Emergency temporary protection should be arranged with a roofer. With lower homes, common in places like Cowley, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- An independent view of the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords and agents in Cowley book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Questions from Cowley
Is Cowley within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cowley?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How long is the visit?
It usually takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how much of the roof was hit. We’ll confirm the timing when booking.
Do you look in the roof space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Will my insurer pay for an old roof?
Wear and tear is typically excluded from home insurance. We note both storm damage and older defects, so it is clear what we found. How the policy applies is up to your insurer.
Can I check the roof after a storm?
Stay off the roof. Take photos from the ground or from windows. Record the date and any damage inside as well.
What you can safely check yourself
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Which survey package you book
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Storm damage roof report starts from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The address and postcode of the property
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.