Greater London · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Old Coulsdon, Greater London
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Old Coulsdon, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
Gutter survey in Old Coulsdon
Gutters are normally fixed to fascia boards, so we check the fascias and soffits too. Long-term overflowing can soften and rot timber boards and mark the soffits underneath. Older buildings, from before 2000, can have asbestos cement soffits, gutters or downpipes. We don’t test for asbestos, but we flag anything that could contain it. We survey outlets and hoppers, parapet and box gutters and valley gutters, and people most often book us about gutters that have fallen out of line and leaves and moss blocking gutters.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, frequently with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Slates can last a century or more, but the nails holding them corrode, and slates slip. Homes in Old Coulsdon are no exception. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a close look too.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Old Coulsdon (CR5, CR3, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
What we look for on each type of roof
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron gutters and downpipes are found on many older buildings. Kept painted, they can last a long time, but rust where the paint fails.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
A London butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter and if it blocks, water can come indoors. We check it where it’s safe to see.
Gutter surveys in Old Coulsdon: local notes
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 5 miles north-east lies Addington Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Old Coulsdon has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Coulsdon South station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Evangelist, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Living close to Dollypers Hill is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Old Coulsdon is about 1 mile south-east of Coulsdon, in Greater London. We carry out gutter surveys in Old Coulsdon for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Greater London. You can also see our page for London.
We work across CR5, CR3 and CR8 for gutter surveys and the streets around it. If you need a gutter survey at a property on Ellis Road, Tollers Lane and Court Avenue or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Old Coulsdon include Coulsdon (1 mile north-west), Chipstead (2 miles west), Purley (2 miles north), Woodcote (2 miles north-west) and Woodmansterne (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (14 miles north), City of Westminster (15 miles north), Marylebone (15 miles north), Kensington (14 miles north), Whitechapel (15 miles north) and Brompton (14 miles north).
Around Old Coulsdon
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Sunnydown School, Dollypers Hill and The Tudor Rose pub. Old Coulsdon’s nearest station is Coulsdon South station, roughly 1.4 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are East Surrey Museum (2 miles south-east) and St Lawrence's Hospital (1.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near Old Coulsdon include Nore Hill and Mercers Lake.
Useful tips for Old Coulsdon property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Check for spilling water in a downpour
- Note any damp stains below the gutters
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Watch ceilings under valley gutters for fresh marks
How quickly the report arrives depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. It is sent to you by email as soon as it is ready.
Have your gutters cleared at least once a year or more often near trees. The best time is usually after the leaves have dropped. Clean gutters can do their job.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Old Coulsdon
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents and landlords in Old Coulsdon book surveys as well as homeowners. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the gutter.
Old Coulsdon: your questions answered
Is my home in Old Coulsdon listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
I let a flat near Coulsdon South station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
What does a gutter survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The size of the property and the access affect the price. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Places near Old Coulsdon
What else we do in Old Coulsdon
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Old Coulsdon moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- First, you let us know what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are looked at from ground level and vantage points.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can safely be seen.
- We look in the roof space, where there’s safe access, for signs of water getting in.
- We send a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Related advice
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- What made you get in touch
If you’re buying, it helps 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.