East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Five Ashes
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Five Ashes, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp patches next to the stack
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
On a flat roof, a leak can show some distance from the split. Where conditions allow, moisture readings and thermal imaging help narrow it down.
Lead flashings
Water from a failed flashing can travel down the wall or along a rafter. We check every flashing that could feed the stain.
How a roof leak investigation works in Five Ashes
Our roof leak investigations cover Five Ashes and the wider South East. Surveys are carried out on weekdays and at weekends. We look inside and out, at flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details. The findings come in a written report with photos. If it’s leaking right now, contain the water and keep it clear of electrics, and then phone 07833 053749 or email us to arrange a visit. We survey rooflights and dormers, lead flashings and slate and tile slopes, and common reasons people get in touch are damp on a chimney breast and damp ceilings under a flat roof.
Roofs in small places like Five Ashes often stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Five Ashes (TN20)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Carrying out the fix
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Five Ashes. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Wind, rain and roofs in Five Ashes
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. 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. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
For landlords with property near Crowborough station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away. Take a building like Five Ashes CofE Primary School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside. If you live in an older home near Church of the Good Shepherd, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Five Ashes is about 4 miles south-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Five Ashes, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton.
We cover every part of TN20 for roof leak investigations. Streets in the area include Westfield Close, Leeds Lane and Spring Lane, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Skippers Hill (1 mile north), Butcher's Cross (1 mile north), Woolbridge (1 mile north-east), Wellbrook (1 mile north-east) and Mayfield (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (15 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Lewes (13 miles south-west), Hailsham (10 miles south), Crowborough (4 miles north-west) and Uckfield (6 miles south-west).
What’s near Five Ashes
In Five Ashes, that means homes and buildings near Skippers Hill Manor School and The Five Ashes Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Crowborough station, about 3.3 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Tickerage Castle (3.8 miles south-west) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (4.3 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a small place like Five Ashes, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Read more
Questions from Five Ashes
Is my home in Five Ashes listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Five Ashes in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Five Ashes as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
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.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes about one to two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Report times depend on the package.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Towns and villages near Five Ashes
Other services in Five Ashes
Can I check my roof myself?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Do not climb onto the roof to look
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, and suggest how the loft space could be better ventilated. That avoids roof work that wouldn’t help.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Take photos of anything that changes.