West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Colworth, West Sussex
Roof leak investigations in Colworth from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp on a chimney breast
About our roof leak investigation in Colworth
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. We check each likely route and follow the evidence. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. Each one is looked at from wherever it’s safe to see it. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and flat roof details, and people most often book us about leaks at a dormer or roof window and damp ceilings under a flat roof.
Somewhere as small as Colworth, older roofs have often been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you’re 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Colworth (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the leaking roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Carrying out the fix
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Leaks that only appear in weather we cannot recreate
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
DIY checks: what’s safe
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Colworth
Is my home in Colworth listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Colworth, take more of a battering?
Frequently, yes. Colworth is within about 3 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Why does not the damp patch line up with the hole?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. On a flat roof it can travel under the covering before it finds a way through the ceiling. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Is Colworth in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Colworth included.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Also in Colworth
How it works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a hamlet or village like Colworth, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Keep pets in another room
- Let us know where we can park nearby
How to book
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know the cost up front. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
When to book a survey in Colworth
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, and very old roofs may have no underlay at all. On slate roofs, slipping is often caused by corroded nails.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Goodwood House, about 4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Colworth. Older roofs in the area may have lead flashings, valleys and gutters that have been patched many times.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their insurance cover
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Let us know what has already been tried
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
If condensation is the cause, we explain it, and suggest how the loft space could be better ventilated. It saves chasing a leak that is not there.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Blocked outlets on parapet and flat roofs cause many leaks. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
What affects the price in Colworth
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Which survey package you book
Every price we give includes VAT. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Colworth roofs and the weather
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Colworth, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
If you own a rental within reach of Bognor Regis station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. Homes near green spaces like The Brooks Local Nature Reserve can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Colworth is about 2 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Bookings from Colworth are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across West Sussex, we cover Colworth and the places around it. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Merston (1 mile west), Oving (2 miles north-west), Lagness (2 miles south-west), Runcton (2 miles west) and Shopwyke (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Worthing (13 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-west), Selsey (7 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles east), Emsworth (10 miles west) and Rustington (9 miles east).
Local landmarks in Colworth
We work in homes and buildings around The Regis School and The Brooks Local Nature Reserve and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Bognor Regis station, about 2.5 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Bognor Regis Museum (2.7 miles south-east) and Tote Copse Castle (1.3 miles north-east).