West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Avisford
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? You can book a roof leak investigation in Avisford and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Stains around a skylight
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
Roof leak investigations in Avisford: local notes
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Avisford, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, leaks on older roofs frequently start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks. If you own a rental within reach of Barnham station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Avisford is about 4 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We carry out roof leak investigations in Avisford for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: BN18. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Binsted (1 mile east), Walberton (1 mile south-west), Slindon Common (1 mile north-west), Slindon (1 mile north-west) and West Barnham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (9 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (7 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles east).
Around Avisford
We work in homes and buildings around St Philip Howard Catholic High School, among other places. The closest station to Avisford is Barnham station, about 1.7 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Arundel Castle (2.6 miles east) and Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
Roof leak investigation in Avisford: what you get
The aim is to find where the water is getting in and explain it. The report shows, with photos, where we believe the water gets in and how it travels, and recommends what should be done. It gives any roofer a clear brief. We find and report the source, and the repair itself is a separate job. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and flat roof details, and people most often book us about leaks at a dormer or roof window and leaks below a flat extension roof.
Being in a small place like Avisford makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It is useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Avisford (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Cottages and farmhouses around Avisford often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the leaking roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Avisford?
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and splits, blisters and lifting laps let water in. Leaks often start at the edges, upstands and outlets.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Take a building like Walberton and Binsted CofE Primary School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Questions to ask before booking
- How soon the report will arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look at the roof from ground level after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
Towns and villages near Avisford
Other services in Avisford
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Avisford
- Chimney stacks
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
Why it’s worth a survey now in Avisford
If a leak has been ‘fixed’ before and has come back, the cause was probably missed. A careful investigation looks at every likely route, not just the obvious one. It gives the next repair a far better chance. For an older or listed building in a place like Avisford, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
FAQs for Avisford
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Avisford?
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.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Avisford, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Avisford is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone.
When does the report arrive?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, like an exchange date, let us know when booking.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.