Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Coombe, Greater London
Wondering about the leaking roof at a property in Coombe? We carry out roof leak investigations in Coombe and across Greater London.
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Coombe
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Driving rain from one direction, melting snow or a gutter that overflows in a downpour can all set it off. Telling us when it happens helps a lot and so do photos. Even on a dry day, a leak normally leaves clues: stained timbers, tide marks and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. We survey flat roof details, chimney stacks and rooflights and dormers, and people most often book us about staining around the chimney inside and damp ceilings under a flat roof.
Many London homes are well over a century old and their roofs have been patched more than once, so a new leak can be the latest sign of wear rather than a single event. Insurers usually exclude wear and tear, so it’s useful to know whether damage is old or new. That’s as true in Coombe as anywhere in London. Photos and a written account give you something specific to show an insurer, a landlord or a roofer.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Coombe (CR0, CR2, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How big the roof is
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Coombe roofs and the weather
Addington Palace, about 1.3 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Coombe. 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Coombe Wood School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. Take an older house close to Church Hall United Reformed Church Of St Paul: lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Coombe is about 1 mile east of Croydon, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Coombe can all book roof leak investigations. Coombe is one of the places in Greater London we cover. We also survey roofs in London.
Surveys in CR0, CR2 and CR9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on Oaks Road, Coombe Road and Coombe Lane. If you are just outside Coombe, we cover Croydon (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile north), South Croydon (1 mile south-west), Shirley Oaks (1 mile north-east) and Shirley (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (9 miles north), City of Westminster (11 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north) and Shoreditch (11 miles north).
Local landmarks in Coombe
Typical jobs here are in homes near Coombe Lodge pub, Royal Russell School and St Peter's Primary School. The closest station to Coombe is South Croydon station, about 1 mile west. Other landmarks nearby include St George's Walk (1.4 miles north-west) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2.1 miles west). For a walk, there’s Bramley Bank and Duppas Hill.
What we’re asked to look at in Coombe
Valleys carry a lot of water. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can push water under the slates or tiles. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
Look out for signs like these:
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Trees in and around Addington Hills shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How soon the report will arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. For a visit in Coombe, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from the ground, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the roof space above it.
- Likely entry points outside are looked at, from flashings and valleys to gutters and outlets.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
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How the survey changes by roof type
Slate and tile slopes
Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles let rain onto the underlay. Ageing felt eventually lets water through.
Parapet and box gutters
Hidden gutters run behind parapets or between roofs. When their outlets block, water rises over the lining and runs indoors.
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Putting the leak right
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
Common questions in Coombe
Is Coombe in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Coombe as anywhere else.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Coombe?
Sometimes, yes. If Coombe has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer.
Can every leak be traced?
We can’t promise to find every leak on one visit. Many leave clear signs, but some only appear in certain weather. We report what we found and the likeliest sources.
Does the investigation include the repair?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair is not part of it. You get a report with photos showing where the water is getting in and what needs attention, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Why isn’t the leak directly above the stain?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a flat roof it can travel under the covering before it shows. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Also near Coombe
Also in Coombe
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.