Hampshire · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in The Frenches
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in The Frenches. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Leaking or loose downpipes
- Joints that drip after rain
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
Gutter surveys in The Frenches: local notes
Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Mottisfont Abbey, about 3.1 miles north, show how far back building in the area around The Frenches goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own a rental within reach of Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
The Frenches is about 3 miles west of Romsey, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in The Frenches and the rest of Hampshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Across Hampshire, we cover The Frenches. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Surveys in SO51 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to The Frenches include Shootash (1 mile east), Plaitford Green (2 miles west), West Wellow (2 miles south-west), East Wellow (2 miles south) and Blackhill (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Andover (15 miles north), Totton (6 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in The Frenches
For rail, the closest station is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, about 2.5 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find King Johns House (2.7 miles east) and Romsey Community Hospital (3.4 miles east). The countryside around The Frenches includes Copythorne Common.
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in The Frenches
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. When they block, leak or lose their fall, the water goes where it shouldn’t and that normally means the walls or the inside of 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 photographs. We survey parapet and box gutters, valley gutters and outlets and hoppers, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are choked outlets or hopper heads and leaks at the gutter joints.
In a small place like The Frenches, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
What you get is a clear record of the gutter on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- The Frenches (SO51)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near The Frenches
What else we do in The Frenches
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a gutter survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Watch the gutters during heavy rain
- Look for new stains on ceilings below valleys after rain
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
- Get the gutters cleaned out every year
If anything in the report is not clear, ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey comes with an in-person one.
Watch your gutters from the ground or a window during heavy rain. Water spilling over the edge or out of a joint is a sign that something needs attention before damage builds up.
What happens if roof problems are left?
It is easy to put damp down to the wrong cause. When rainwater goods are the source, treating the wall alone won’t solve it. Checking the gutters first helps you spend in the right place. Outbuildings and barns around The Frenches are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What you get with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Package prices that include VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Every finding written up with photos
What affects the price in The Frenches
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Booking your survey
We will typically ask about:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the gutter, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. Cottages and farmhouses around The Frenches often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We agree which parts of the building you’re most worried about.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- We check the outlets, hoppers, downpipes and any overflows.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
How to book
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
FAQs for The Frenches
How do I find out if my home in The Frenches is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is The Frenches within the area you cover?
Yes, The Frenches is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does the season matter for a gutter survey?
Whenever suits you. If water is already spilling over, book sooner rather than later, because the walls take the water.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos testing. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you survey underground drains?
No. We look at above-ground rainwater only, from the gutters to the bottom of the downpipes. If a drain below ground looks like the cause, the report says so.
Do you check valley and parapet gutters?
Yes, where it’s safe to see them. We use the ground, windows, the loft space and the roof where it’s safe, and by drone where it’s applicable.