West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in East Grinstead
Roof leak investigations in East Grinstead, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Wet patches on loft insulation
Roof leak investigation in East Grinstead
A leak that comes and goes can be the hardest to pin down. 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, along with any photos you’ve taken. We look for the clues it leaves behind, like tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture detection shows which materials are still damp. Typical surveys look at damp ceilings under a flat roof and water dripping from rafters or underlay, across the roof space, rooflights and dormers and chimney stacks.
When a storm passes over a town like East Grinstead, loose tiles, slates and ridges are the first to move. What counts as a storm depends on your policy; many use gusts of around 55 mph. A report setting out the damage, with photos, helps you explain what you’ve found, whether to an insurer or a roofer. Policies normally exclude wear and tear, which is why the age of the damage matters.
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.
- Place
- East Grinstead (RH19)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
When to book a survey in East Grinstead
Some water in the loft isn’t rain at all. Moist air from bathrooms and kitchens condenses on the cold underside of the roof, particularly in lofts with blocked eaves. Wet nail tips and damp underlay over a wide area are classic signs.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
If you look after a building such as St Mary's CofE Primary School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their report turnaround times
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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.
What we look for on each type of roof
Slate and tile slopes
A gap in the coverings exposes the underlay. Ageing felt eventually lets water through.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. During a downpour, water can back up under the coverings.
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. In East Grinstead, parking is rarely complicated, though it helps to know about driveways or restrictions. The inspection covers what can safely be seen from outside, from windows and from the roof space, and from the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange 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. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Advice
How we price roof leak investigations
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- When you need the report by
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
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, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
East Grinstead questions
Is there anything to prepare before you come to East Grinstead?
The main thing is access, inside and out, plus somewhere to park in East Grinstead. It also helps to know about any leaks or earlier repairs.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Grinstead?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How quickly is the report sent?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.
How long does the visit take?
The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a pitched roof it frequently runs down a rafter before it finds a way through the ceiling. Tracing that path is the heart of a leak investigation.
Nearby places to East Grinstead
What else we do in East Grinstead
Roof leak investigations around East Grinstead
With Saint Hill Manor about 1.7 miles south-west, East Grinstead sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed.
If you let a flat or house near East Grinstead station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. The streets around a church like Our Lady and St Peter's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
East Grinstead is about 8 miles east of Crawley, in West Sussex. East Grinstead gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at what can safely be seen, photographs and a clear written report. East Grinstead is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for roof leak investigations. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
We work across RH19 for roof leak investigations. You will find streets like Station Road, High Street and London Road. You’ll find East Grinstead on the A22 and A264, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you’re just outside East Grinstead, we cover Dormans Park (1 mile north), Saint Hill Green (2 miles south), Felbridge (2 miles north-west), Ashurst Wood (2 miles south-east) and Felcourt (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (8 miles west), Horsham (14 miles west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (13 miles south-west), Broadfield (9 miles west) and Bewbush (9 miles west). East Grinstead is among the bigger towns we cover in West Sussex.
Landmarks near East Grinstead
In East Grinstead, that means homes and buildings near Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, The Railway pub and Sackville School and the streets around them. East Grinstead has its own railway station: East Grinstead station. Nearby you will also find East Grinstead Museum (less than half a mile south-east) and Queen Victoria Hospital (0.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Hedgecourt Lake.