Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Apse Heath, Isle of Wight
Find out what’s going on with the leaking roof before you decide what to do next. Roof leak investigations in Apse Heath.
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Stains around a skylight
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Roof leak investigation in Apse Heath
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. We check each likely route and we follow where the evidence leads. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We check all of them, from every safe viewpoint. Common reasons to book are water marks that spread in wet weather and water through the ceiling under a flat roof, across rooflights and dormers, the roof space and slate and tile slopes.
Roofs in small places like Apse Heath frequently stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Place
- Apse Heath (PO36)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Apse Heath
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can push water under the slates or tiles. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Damp patches next to the stack
For hotels and guest houses around Apse Heath, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a small place like Apse Heath, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Common questions in Apse Heath
Will you come out to Apse Heath?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Apse Heath is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing. Move stored items away from the loft hatch. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Let us know what has already been tried
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
Once the work is done, hold on to the report. If the leak returns, it is a useful record of what was found.
Plan a roof survey every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Chimneys let water in through pointing, flaunching, flashings and open pots. We check each one as far as we can safely see.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. During a downpour, water can back up under the coverings.
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Apse Heath
Apse Heath lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather. The wider area around Apse Heath has a long history of building, with Haseley Manor about 1.8 miles north-west. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take a building like Sandown Bay Academy: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside. If you let a flat or house near Shanklin station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Apse Heath is about 6 miles south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We carry out roof leak investigations in Apse Heath for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across the Isle of Wight. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
All of PO36 is within our area for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Ventnor Road, The Brambles and Newport Road. Other places close to Apse Heath include Princelett (1 mile south-west), Branstone (1 mile north-west), Winford (1 mile north), Hale Common (1 mile north-west) and Whiteley Bank (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Newport (6 miles north-west), Ryde (6 miles north), Cowes (9 miles north-west), Ventnor (3 miles south), East Cowes (8 miles north-west) and Oakfield (6 miles north). If you’re somewhere remote, the survey takes a little more planning, so let us know when you contact us.
What’s near Apse Heath
The closest station to Apse Heath is Shanklin station, roughly 1.3 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Wight Aviation Museum (1 mile north-east) and Sandown Castle (2.6 miles east). Not far away are Stenbury Down and Alverstone Mead.