West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Coolham, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the leaking roof at your property in Coolham. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
Roof leak investigations around Coolham
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
Take an older house close to St Mary's Mission Church: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. Landlords with a home close to Billingshurst station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Coolham is about 6 miles south-west of Horsham, in West Sussex. If you’re in Coolham, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across West Sussex, we cover Coolham. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Roof leak investigations in RH13 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Coolham Road and West Chiltington Lane or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Coolham: Goose Green (3 miles south), Gay Street (3 miles south-west), Adversane (3 miles west), North Heath (3 miles west) and West Chiltington (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north-east), Worthing (12 miles south), Haywards Heath (13 miles east), Burgess Hill (12 miles east) and Littlehampton (14 miles south-west).
Near you in Coolham
We work in homes and buildings around The Selsey Arms Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Coolham is Billingshurst station, roughly 2.4 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Christs Hospital School Museum (3.9 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Knepp Wildland.
About our roof leak investigation in Coolham
On older houses, leaks often start at lead work and hidden gutters. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. A central valley gutter on a butterfly roof frequently turns out to be the source in heavy rain. We check parapets, valleys and flashings from each safe vantage point. The findings are recorded with photos. If you are worried about water coming in around a roof light or dormer and drips from nail tips in a cold loft, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Coolham, older roofs have frequently been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. 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.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Coolham (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
Surveys for landlords and agents in Coolham
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Leave roof access to professionals
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. The photos show the defects and where they are, rather than at the stain.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially in autumn. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Use a professional rather than climbing up yourself.
How it works
The visit has one job: to look at the leaking roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit normally takes about one to two hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a hamlet or village like Coolham, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets in another room
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
Coolham questions
Do you cover smaller places like Coolham?
Yes, Coolham is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is Coolham in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Coolham as anywhere else.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What’s the best way to book?
Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Coolham?
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.
Look out for signs like these:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Take a building like William Penn School: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether VAT is added on top
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.
Parapet and box gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. If that gutter or its outlet fails, water can come through the top-floor ceiling.