West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Chidham, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Chidham, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Wet patches on loft insulation
About our roof leak investigation in Chidham
We investigate roof leaks in Chidham and across London and the South East. Surveys are carried out on weekdays and at weekends. The investigation covers inside and out, from the stain to the likely entry points. You get a written report with photographs and recommendations. If water is coming in now, catch it in a bucket and keep it away from lights and sockets, then phone 07833 053749 or email us. Typical surveys look at wet patches on loft insulation and water that shows only in certain storms, across rooflights and dormers, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roof details.
Many homes in small places like Chidham face open ground, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Chidham (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Chidham roofs and the weather
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Chidham, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. Warblington Castle, about 4.1 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chidham. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. If you own a rental within reach of Nutbourne station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Chidham is about 4 miles west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Roofs in Chidham get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Our West Sussex coverage includes Chidham and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
All of PO18 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Chidham Lane, Harbour Way and Cot Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Chidham include Nutbourne (1 mile north-west), Bosham (1 mile east), Broadbridge (1 mile east), Hambrook (1 mile north) and Bosham Hoe (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles east), Chichester (4 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Littlehampton (15 miles east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west) and Portfield (5 miles east).
Near you in Chidham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bourne Community College. The closest station to Chidham is Nutbourne station, roughly 1 mile north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Warblington Castle (4.1 miles west) and St Richard's Hospital (4.6 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Nutborne Marshes and Stoke Down.
Chidham: your questions answered
Will you come out to Chidham?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Chidham, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Can you always find the source?
We cannot promise it. Some leaks hide well, especially those that need wind-driven rain. If we cannot be sure, the report ranks the possible sources.
Why is not the leak directly above the stain?
Water rarely drops straight down. It runs along rafters, battens or underlay before it drips, so the stain may be some distance from where it gets in. That is why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair itself is a separate job. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Common roof problems in Chidham
Blocked gutters can look like a roof leak. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Staining around the chimney inside
Take a building like Chidham Parochial Primary School: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Nearby places to Chidham
Other services in Chidham
Landlords, agents and block managers in Chidham
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
If condensation is the cause, we explain it, and suggest how the roof space could be better ventilated. It saves chasing a leak that isn’t there.
Plan a roof survey every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and catching wear early keeps water out.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- Carrying out the fix
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
What we do, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Around Chidham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- 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.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe vantage point.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.