Hampshire · London and the South East
Emery Down Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for Emery Down, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Emery Down
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We survey slate and tile slopes, lead flashings and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp patches next to the stack and stains around a skylight.
In a village or hamlet like Emery Down, older cottages and farmhouses often have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, particularly to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The report records the leaking roof as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Emery Down (SO43)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof leak investigations in Emery Down: local notes
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. Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
If you run a hotel or guest house in or near Emery Down, a roof problem can mean rooms out of use, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Michael and All Angels CofE Infant School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Emery Down is about 5 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. We carry out roof leak investigations for householders, landlords and businesses in Emery Down. Our Hampshire coverage includes Emery Down. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Roof leak investigations in SO43 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets like Garden Close, Northerwood Avenue and Silver Street, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Lyndhurst (1 mile east), Balmerlawn (3 miles south), Ashurst (4 miles north-east), Brockenhurst (4 miles south) and Colbury (4 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastleigh (12 miles north-east), Totton (5 miles north-east), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles east), Lymington (8 miles south) and Romsey (10 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Emery Down
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Swan Inn, among other places. The closest station to Emery Down is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 2.9 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Ashurst Hospital (3.1 miles north-east) and National Dairy Museum (3.9 miles east). For a walk, there is Copythorne Common.
Towns and villages near Emery Down
More services for Emery Down
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Move stored items away from the hatch
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, rather than at the stain.
Keep the loft space ventilated. Good airflow reduces condensation, and condensation is a common false alarm. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around Emery Down, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- 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.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Prices for roof leak investigations in Emery Down
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
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
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.
What to let us know when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What’s prompted the survey
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The kind of building and roof involved
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Emery Down
A chimney stack has plenty of places for rain to get in. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. The damp may appear on a chimney breast, a ceiling or in the loft.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Stains around a skylight
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Damp on a chimney breast
For landlords with property near Ashurst New Forest station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Before you book anyone
- What insurance they carry
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What exactly goes into their report
- What they won’t be able to tell you
Landlords, agents and block managers in Emery Down
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
What we can’t see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Questions from Emery Down
Do you cover smaller places like Emery Down?
Yes, Emery Down is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Emery Down?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does the investigation include the repair?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair isn’t part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done.
How long does the visit take?
It typically takes about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Report times depend on the package.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.