East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Barcombe, East Sussex
Roof leak investigations across Barcombe, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
About our roof leak investigation in Barcombe
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Driving rain from one direction, melting snow or a gutter that overflows in a downpour can all set it off. Telling us when it happens helps a lot, along with any photos you’ve taken. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. Typical surveys look at wet patches on loft insulation and damp patches next to the stack, across the roof space, chimney stacks and flat roof details.
Somewhere as small as Barcombe, older roofs have frequently been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you are thinking of an insurance claim. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Barcombe (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in Barcombe
With Glyndebourne about 3.2 miles south-east, Barcombe sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
Take a building like Barcombe Church of England Primary School: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. If you own a rental within reach of Cooksbridge station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Barcombe is about 3 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. We cover Barcombe and the rest of East Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Brighton is in our area too.
All of BN8 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Barcombe Mills (1 mile east), Barcombe Cross (1 mile north), Upper Wellingham (1 mile south-east), Mount Pleasant (1 mile north) and Cooksbridge (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (3 miles south), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east) and Uckfield (5 miles north-east).
What’s near Barcombe
We work in homes and buildings around Anglers Rest pub and Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Cooksbridge station, roughly 1.5 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Lewes Victoria Hospital (3 miles south) and Lewes Castle (3 miles south). For a walk, there is Offham Hill and Malling Down.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Barcombe
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Barcombe. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
When to book a survey in Barcombe
Some water in the loft isn’t rain at all. Warm, moist air from the house rises into a cold roof space and condenses, especially where ventilation is poor. Drips from nails and damp underlay are typical signs.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
Places near Barcombe
More services for Barcombe
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Barcombe questions
Is Barcombe in the area you cover?
Yes, Barcombe is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Barcombe as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Barcombe is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
In most cases, yes. Damp materials can be found without rain. If a leak only appears in driving rain from one direction, we’ll tell you what we found and what’s most likely.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What will the report tell me?
A photo-illustrated written report, covering the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Where conditions suit, it can. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, which can show up on the image. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
How the survey works
We will ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older rural homes like those around Barcombe can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
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What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
- Putting the leak right
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes