West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Bolney
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in Bolney. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
About our roof leak investigation in Bolney
On older houses, leaks often start at lead work and hidden gutters. Worn lead, tired valley linings and blocked parapet outlets are frequent causes. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are checked from wherever it is safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. Common reasons to book are stains around a skylight and staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall, across rooflights and dormers, slate and tile slopes and valleys and parapet gutters.
For a small place like Bolney, the inspection is the same as anywhere: the journey and access are just planned in advance. It helps to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Where we can’t see part of the leaking roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Bolney (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. The photos show the defects and where they are, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Photograph anything new.
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a hamlet or village like Bolney, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before the survey
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Bolney
Will you come out to Bolney?
Yes, Bolney is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Bolney is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Report times depend on the package.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
It can, when the conditions are right. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and 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.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
What do I do with the report?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Can a leak be traced on a dry day?
Often, yes. Stains, tide marks, damp timbers and moisture readings normally point the way. Some leaks only show in particular weather, so photos and notes from when it leaks help a lot.
Why it is worth a survey now in Bolney
Damp loft insulation loses much of its value. A slow leak can soak it for months before a stain appears. Catching it early limits what has to be replaced. Around Bolney, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
See our cost guide or our case studies.
What we cannot see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
For a price for your roof in Bolney, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
These details help when you contact us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Wind, rain and roofs in Bolney
Ockenden Manor, about 2.5 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Bolney. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Mary Magdalene's Church, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. Landlords with a home close to Wivelsfield station may find that a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. Anyone responsible for a site like Bolney CofE Primary School will know that a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Bolney is about 4 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. In Bolney, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. There’s also a page for Crawley.
All of RH17 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on The Street, Cherry Lane and Top Street or a nearby road, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Crosspost (1 mile south-west), Twineham Green (2 miles south), Twineham (2 miles south), Wineham (3 miles south-west) and Kent Street (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (7 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles east), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (12 miles north-east).
Around Bolney
The closest station to Bolney is Wivelsfield station, roughly 4.1 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (2.6 miles east). The countryside around Bolney includes Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Checking the roof from the ground
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.