Essex · London and the South East
Felsted Roof Leak Investigation
Get a clear view of the leaking roof at a property in Felsted from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Felsted
Flashings are one of the commonest sources of roof leaks. Where a roof meets a chimney, a wall or a dormer, lead or mortar seals the joint. Once that seal cracks or lifts, water gets behind it, frequently well away from where it shows.
People typically book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
The streets around a church such as Church of the Holy Cross are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How soon the report will arrive
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
How a roof leak investigation works in Felsted
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 every safe vantage point. The findings are recorded with photos. We survey slate and tile slopes, chimney stacks and rooflights and dormers, and common reasons people get in touch are leaks at a dormer or roof window and drips in the loft during heavy rain.
Being in a small place like Felsted makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It’s useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, plus any earlier repairs. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Felsted (CM6)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Getting the most from a roof leak investigation starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant, so you know what to deal with first.
Plan a roof survey every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and catching wear early keeps water out.
What we cannot see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Felsted
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Rural addresses near Felsted can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it’s useful.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Places near Felsted
Also in Felsted
FAQs for Felsted
Do you carry out roof surveys in Felsted?
Yes, Felsted is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Felsted is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
Our job here is to trace the leak and explain it, and the repair is separate. The report gives any roofer a clear brief.
Why is not the leak directly above the stain?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. 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.
How do I book a survey in Felsted?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What’s in the report?
A report with photos, covering the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, with the most urgent first where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. If it is too low, cracked or poorly dressed, water gets behind it.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. In heavy rain, it can spill under the edges of the slates or tiles.
Leaks and storm damage in Felsted
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Take a building like Felsted Primary School: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Felsted is about 6 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. We provide roof leak investigations for householders, landlords and businesses in Felsted and the surrounding area. Felsted is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
We cover every part of CM6 for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Station Road, Braintree Road and Chelmsford Road or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Felsted, we cover Causeway End (1 mile south), Watch House Green (1 mile north-east), Little Dunmow (1 mile west), Bannister Green (1 mile east) and Brookstreet (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles south), Braintree (6 miles east), Harlow (15 miles south-west), Maldon (14 miles south-east), Witham (9 miles south-east) and Saffron Walden (14 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Felsted
Around Felsted, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Chequers pub. Other landmarks nearby include Little Easton Moat (4.9 miles north-west) and Braintree Community Hospital (4.6 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
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. Don’t go up yourself.