Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Charlton, Greater London
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Charlton, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
Roof leak investigation in Charlton: what you get
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is part of the Premium Survey, and moisture detection comes with Standard. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If you’ve noticed leaks that appear only in driving rain and wet patches on loft insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In London, leaks often start somewhere hidden: the valley gutter in a butterfly roof, a parapet gutter, a chimney flashing or the flat roof over a rear extension. Whether you’re tracing a leak or recording storm damage in Charlton, those are among the first places to look. Water from a hidden gutter can run along joists and show up a room or two away.
After the visit, you get a written report with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the leaking roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Charlton (SE7, SE18)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. If it’s too low, cracked or poorly dressed, water gets behind it.
Parapet and box gutters
Linings, joints and outlets are inspected wherever it is safe, and look for signs of past overflowing.
Roof leak investigations around Charlton
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. With Queen's House about 1.9 miles west, Charlton sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
If you live near a park such as Charlton Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Gallions Reach Shopping Park, a leak can close part of a shop or office, so finding the cause quickly matters. If you own a rental within reach of Charlton station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Charlton is about 2 miles west of Plumstead, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Charlton, we can come and survey your property. Across Greater London, we cover Charlton and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
Roof leak investigations in SE7 and SE18 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Floyd Road, Guild Road and Priolo Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Charlton: New Charlton (1 mile north-west), Westcombe Park (1 mile west), Woolwich (1 mile east), Vanbrugh Park Estate (1 mile south-west) and Kidbrooke (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as London (6 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Charlton
Typical jobs here are in homes near Charlton Park, Wildwood Montessori School and Royal Greenwich Trust School, among other places. Charlton has its own railway station: Charlton station. Nearby you’ll also find British Hospital for Mothers and Babies (0.5 miles east) and Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.3 miles north-east). Not far away are Gilbert's Pit.
Why get it checked now?
A leak near lights or wiring needs attention quickly. Keep away from any fitting that water is reaching. Then the source needs tracing. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why us?
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- 20+ years’ experience
- Package prices that include VAT
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
What we can’t see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Carrying out the fix
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Leaks that only appear in weather we cannot recreate
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
Nearby places to Charlton
Other services in Charlton
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In Charlton, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- 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 the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Charlton
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Charlton?
Parking in Charlton, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Charlton?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Can you always find the source?
Not every leak can be pinned down in a single visit. Many leave clear signs, but some only appear in certain weather. We report what we found and the likeliest sources.
What should I do before you arrive?
Keep a note of when it leaks. Clear access to the loft. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see each point for yourself.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Useful tips for Charlton property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, and suggest how the loft space could be better ventilated. It saves chasing a leak that is not there.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Good airflow reduces condensation, which is often mistaken for a leak. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
How we price roof leak investigations
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- Height and safe access
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The size of the roof
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- When you need the report by
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.