West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Colwood
A careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Colwood, with photos and a written report.
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
Wind, rain and roofs in Colwood
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. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. Tyes Place, about 3.4 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Colwood. 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.
If you live near a park such as Leonardslee, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys.
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We provide roof leak investigations for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Colwood. Colwood is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Crawley is in our area too.
Here we cover the RH17 postcode area for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane. Other places close to Colwood include Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Colwood
Around Colwood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Leonardslee, among other places. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). Open spaces near Colwood include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Colwood
Our roof leak investigations cover Colwood and the wider South East. We visit seven days a week. The investigation covers inside and out, from the stain to the likely entry points. The findings come in a written report with photos. If it is leaking right now, contain the water and keep it clear of electrics, then ring 07833 053749 or email us. We’re often asked to look into staining around the chimney inside and leaks below a flat extension roof, on chimney stacks, the roof space and flat roof details.
Somewhere as small as Colwood, older roofs have often been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, which matters if you are thinking of an insurance claim. We look at everything that’s safely in view and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
What you get is a clear record of the leaking roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Colwood (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Colwood
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What’s prompted the survey
For a price for roof leak investigations in Colwood, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
How the survey works
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Somewhere like Colwood needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
We email the report to you, with photographs of what we found. It explains the likely entry point, the route the water takes and our recommendations. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
Roof by roof
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Water then gets in along the top of the roof.
Parapet and box gutters
Parapet and box gutters sit behind walls or inside the roof. A blocked outlet sends water over the lining and into the building.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Colwood
Is Colwood in the area you cover?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Colwood is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Will you come out to Colwood?
Yes, Colwood is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it’s part of the Premium Survey. It shows temperature differences, not water itself, so we confirm its findings with moisture readings.
Is the repair included in the leak investigation?
Our job here is to trace the leak and explain it, and the repair is separate. The report gives any roofer a clear brief.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. On a pitched roof it often runs down a rafter before it finds a way through the ceiling. Tracing that path is the heart of a leak investigation.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What we cannot see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
Nearby places to Colwood
More services for Colwood
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.