West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Ford, West Sussex
Find out what’s going on with the leaking roof before you spend money on it. Roof leak investigations in Ford.
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
How a roof leak investigation works in Ford
Roof leaks rarely show up where you’d expect. It can run along a rafter, a batten or the underlay before it drips, so a ceiling stain is rarely directly below the cause. Our leak investigation traces it back, one likely route at a time. A repair aimed only at the stain can miss the cause entirely. Tracing the route first means any work can be aimed at the right place. Common reasons to book are leaks that appear only in driving rain and wet patches high on an inside wall, on lead flashings, flat roof details and the roof space.
Somewhere as small as Ford, older roofs have often been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We check everything that’s safely in view and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Ford (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older roofs in small places like Ford can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside frequently starts at the top of the stack. Open, unused pots let rain fall down the flue.
Valleys
Stains from a valley leak often show some distance off. From inside the loft space, we follow the water’s route back.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Ford
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the leaking roof, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look
Once the work is done, hold on to the report. If water appears again, it shows what was found before, which makes the next step quicker.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and catching wear early keeps water out.
What else we do in Ford
What affects the price in Ford
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
What to tell us when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Anything about access we should know
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Ford: your questions answered
Will you come out to Ford?
Yes, Ford is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is the coastal weather around Ford hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
What should I do before you arrive?
Make sure the loft can be reached. Have any photos of the leak ready, and let us know about past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Will you definitely find the leak?
Not every leak can be pinned down in a single visit. Many leave clear signs, but intermittent leaks that need particular weather can be harder. We report what we found and the likeliest sources.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
Roof leak investigations around Ford
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Ford, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain finds any gap they leave. Historic houses like Ecclesden Manor, about 4.8 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Ford goes. 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 any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Ford station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St Andrew, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. In Ford, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across West Sussex, we cover Ford and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
We work across the BN18 postcode area for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. We offer roof leak investigations to properties on Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent. We also cover Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
Local landmarks in Ford
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station, among other places. There’s a railway station in Ford itself: Ford station. Nearby you’ll also find Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include WWT Arundel.
What we’re asked to look at in Ford
A gutter that overflows can soak a wall and mark the ceiling inside. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
Take a building like The Littlehampton Academy: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
What to check before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is VAT included in the price?