Roof leak investigation

How it works

1. You tell us where the leak shows, when it happens and what has been tried before.
2. We look at the staining inside and the roof space above it where access is safe.
3. We inspect the roof outside, working back from the stain to the likely entry points.
4. Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help narrow it down.
5. Your report explains where water is getting in, with photographs and recommendations.

Why leaks are hard to find

Water travels. It can enter at a flashing or valley and run along a rafter or the underlay before it drips, so the stain may be well away from the cause. Tracing it back properly saves repeat repairs in the wrong place.

Condensation or a leak?

Some damp in lofts and under flat roofs is condensation, not rain getting in. We look at both, because the answer changes what needs doing.

Why it’s worth doing now

A leak that isn’t traced properly gets patched in the wrong place. Meanwhile water keeps soaking the timbers, insulation and ceilings, and every heavy shower makes the damage worse. Finding the real entry point first means the repair is aimed at the cause.

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

Use the report to brief whoever carries out the work, so the repair is aimed at the entry point we identified. Keep an eye on the area after the next heavy rain, and protect anything inside that could be damaged by drips until the work is done.