Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Shorwell
Gutter surveys in Shorwell, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
- Overflowing eaves gutters
Common roof problems in Shorwell
Gutter brackets work loose or corrode with age. A gutter full of wet debris is heavy and the extra load drags the gutter down. Lose the fall and water gathers in the dip, then overflows.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
Northcourt Manor lies about 0.3 miles north, so building around Shorwell goes back a long way. If your house is among the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up.
What to check before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What exactly goes into their report
- What follow-up you get after the report
- When you will get the report
How a gutter survey works in Shorwell
Most gutters hang from the fascia boards at the eaves, so we look at the fascias and soffits too. Water that overflows for long enough can rot timber fascias and stain the soffits below. Older buildings, from before 2000, can have asbestos cement soffits, gutters or downpipes. We do not test for asbestos, so we flag anything that might contain it for a specialist asbestos surveyor to check. We are often asked to look into cracked or loose downpipes and sagging gutters and loose brackets, on parapet and box gutters, valley gutters and fascias and soffits.
Somewhere as small as Shorwell, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Shorwell (PO30)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it is worth a survey now in Shorwell
A blocked valley or parapet gutter does not spill harmlessly. It can overflow into the building normally during the worst downpours. Having them checked before autumn and winter makes sense. In a small place like Shorwell, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in Shorwell
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Package prices that include VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take about one to two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Shorwell can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You tell us where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from the ground.
- Valleys, parapets and box gutters are inspected where they can safely be seen.
- The loft space is checked for staining, where it can be reached safely.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
When you need someone else
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- Rot or damp concealed behind fascias or inside walls
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
- Valley gutters
What we look for on each type of roof
Cast iron gutters
Lots of period homes still have cast iron rainwater goods. They last well when painted but corrode once the paint wears off.
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Plastic rainwater systems are common on homes of many ages. As the seals age, joints can start to drip and brackets may drop under the weight of debris.
Shorwell: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Shorwell is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is the coastal weather around Shorwell hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details as you book.
How long does a gutter survey take?
Most visits to a house take about 1–2 hours, and longer for larger or complex roofs.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Towns and villages near Shorwell
Other services in Shorwell
Shorwell homes and their roofs
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Shorwell, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. A number of the island’s villages keep thatched roofs on older buildings, and nowhere on the island is far from the sea. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
The streets around a church like St. Peter's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Shorwell is about 5 miles south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Bookings from Shorwell are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across the Isle of Wight, large and small. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
We work across PO30 for gutter surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Fine Lane, Orchards Way and Farriers Way. Other places close to Shorwell include Thorncross (1 mile south-west), Little Atherfield (2 miles south), Moortown (2 miles west), Brighstone (2 miles west) and Chillerton (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Newport (5 miles north-east), Ryde (10 miles north-east), Cowes (8 miles north), Sandown (9 miles east), Shanklin (8 miles east) and Ventnor (7 miles south-east). If you are somewhere remote, the survey takes a little more planning, so mention it as you book.
Around Shorwell
We work in homes and buildings around The Crown Inn. A little further out are Carisbrooke Castle (3.6 miles north-east) and Whitecroft Hospital (3.1 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Brighstone Down.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
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. Do not go up yourself.