Gutter survey

How it works

1. You tell us about the property and where you’ve seen overflowing or damp.
2. We look at gutters and downpipes from the ground, windows and vantage points.
3. Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected where access is safe, or by drone where applicable.
4. We check walls, ceilings and the roof space for damp linked to the gutters.
5. Your report sets out what we found and our recommendations.

Hidden gutters

Valley gutters in butterfly roofs and the gutters behind parapet walls are common on London’s Victorian terraces. When they block, water can overflow inside rather than down the outside wall, so they’re worth checking.

Above-ground only

We survey the rainwater system from the roof down to ground level. Underground drains need a separate CCTV drain survey.

Why it’s worth doing now

A blocked or leaking gutter soaks the wall below every time it rains, and a blocked valley or parapet gutter can send water straight into the house. The damp it causes often gets blamed on something else, so finding the real source matters.

What our survey covers and doesn’t

We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from inside the roof space where there is safe access, from the roof where it is safe, and by drone where applicable. Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey, not a structural engineer’s report and not an asbestos survey, and we can’t see under coverings or inside walls without opening them up. Where a roof may contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before it is disturbed.

What our survey covers

What affects the price

• The size and height of the roof
• How many roofs there are, including extensions, dormers and garages
• How complex the roof is: valleys, parapets, chimneys and different levels
• Access to the roof space and the roof
• The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
• Whether drone inspection or thermal imaging is needed
• For commercial roofs and blocks, the size of the roof and the number of buildings

What to check before booking a roof surveyor

• What the report includes, and when you’ll get it
• Whether photographs are included
• How the roof will be inspected: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• For drone work, a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
• What the survey doesn’t cover
• The price, including VAT

After the survey

Have gutters, outlets and downpipes cleared regularly, especially after autumn leaf fall, and check them after heavy rain. Use the report to brief whoever carries out any work, and deal with hidden valley and parapet gutters first.