Greater London · London and the South East
Rotherhithe Gutter Survey
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes across Rotherhithe, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
- Soffits marked by water
About our gutter survey in Rotherhithe
Gutters carry rain off the roof and away from the walls. If they clog, drip or sag, the water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t, often down the brickwork or into the building. Our survey looks at the whole rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. You get a report with photos. Common reasons to book are water backing up from a hidden gutter and leaks at the gutter joints, across downpipes, valley gutters and parapet and box gutters.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, many with Welsh slate roofs, shared chimney stacks and parapet or valley gutters. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. In Rotherhithe, as across London, that’s why a roof needs a proper look rather than a glance from the street. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a careful look too.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Rotherhithe (SE16, SE8, E1W)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Fascias and soffits
On buildings from before 2000, soffits may be asbestos cement. We flag any that could be for a specialist asbestos surveyor to check.
Cast iron gutters
Rust at joints and brackets is the usual weak point on cast iron. Cracks, rust and leaks are recorded where they can be seen.
Your questions about gutter surveys in Rotherhithe
Can a landlord with a rental near Canada Water station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Rotherhithe?
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 inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Is there a good time of year to book a gutter survey?
Any time of year works. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems often show up after heavy rain.
Are hidden gutters like valleys and box gutters included?
Yes. These gutters often cause leaks indoors when they block, so they’re an important part of the survey. Parts of them may not be visible, and we’ll note that in the report.
How long does a gutter survey take?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. You will know roughly how long when we arrange the visit.
Do you survey underground drains?
No. Our gutter survey covers rainwater above ground down to where the downpipes reach the ground. Where a below-ground drain seems to be the problem, we will tell you.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is often on a shared landing. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- We start by hearing about any drips, overflows or damp patches.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe vantage points.
- We check hidden gutters, such as valleys and parapets, where it’s safe to see them.
- We look in the loft space, where there is safe access, for signs of water getting in.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Rotherhithe
Many people get in touch after seeing water pour over a gutter in heavy rain. Others notice a damp wall, a stained ceiling or a green streak down the brickwork. A survey helps show where the water is coming from before it causes more harm.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
If you own a rental within reach of Canada Water station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
What to check before booking
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their report turnaround times
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What a gutter survey doesn’t cover
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- Rot or damp concealed behind fascias or inside walls
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Downpipes
- Parapet and box gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Look for green streaks or damp patches on walls
- Get the gutters cleaned out every year
- Check from the ground or a window, not a ladder
- Have overhanging branches cut back
Once work is carried out, keep an eye on the gutters in the next downpour. Rain should flow to the outlets and down the downpipes. If it does not, tell whoever did the work.
Get the gutters cleared every year or more often near trees. Late autumn, after the leaves have fallen, is a sensible time. Clear gutters can carry water away as they should.
Gutter surveys around Rotherhithe
The wider area around Rotherhithe has a long history of building, with Queen's House about 2.1 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you look after a building like Alfred Salter Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Holy Trinity Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Rotherhithe is about 2 miles south-east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Rotherhithe can all book gutter surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Rotherhithe is one of the places in Greater London where we work.
Gutter surveys in SE16, SE8 and E1W are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Bush Road, Gomm Road and Swan Road and the roads around them. With the A200 close by, Rotherhithe is simple for us to get to for gutter surveys. We also cover the places around Rotherhithe: Surrey Quays (1 mile south), Surrey Canal (1 mile south), South Bermondsey (1 mile south-west), Millwall (1 mile south-east) and North Greenwich (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover City of Westminster (5 miles west), Marylebone (5 miles west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles north-west), Walthamstow (6 miles north) and Hoxton (3 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Rotherhithe
Around Rotherhithe, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Ship York pub, Bacon's College and Russia Dock Woodland and the streets around them. Rotherhithe has its own railway station: Canada Water station. A little further out are St Olave's Hospital (0.5 miles west) and Tower of London (1.6 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include St. James's Park Lake and Tower Hill.
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.