Essex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Fordham
Find out what’s going on with the leaking roof before you decide what to do next. Roof leak investigations in Fordham, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
About our roof leak investigation in Fordham
Our job is to find the likely source and tell you. You get a written report with photographs showing the likely entry point and the route the water is taking, and recommends what should be done. It gives any roofer a clear brief. The investigation finds and explains the cause, and the repair itself is a separate job. We survey flat roof details, valleys and parapet gutters and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are a leak that comes and goes with the weather and damp patches next to the stack.
Being in a small place like Fordham makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: the journey and access are just planned beforehand. It is useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Fordham (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Putting the leak right
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
FAQs for Fordham
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fordham?
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 come out to Fordham?
Yes, Fordham is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Keep a note of when it leaks, and take photos. Move stored items away from the loft hatch. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Because water travels. It can follow a timber or the underlay a long way first, so the stain may be some distance from where it gets in. We follow the route back instead of guessing.
Places near Fordham
What else we do in Fordham
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Older rural homes like those around Fordham can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- We look at the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, like flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
Water damage grows the longer it’s left. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Tracing it now means less to put right later. Outbuildings and barns around Fordham are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why us?
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Prices that include VAT
- 98% customer satisfaction
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
What we’re asked to look at in Fordham
Flat roofs fail with age and wear. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and splits, blisters and lifting laps let water in. Leaks often start at the edges, upstands and outlets.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Stains around a skylight
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
If you let a flat or house near Chappel & Wakes Colne station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their report turnaround times
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Useful tips for Fordham property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Note the weather when the leak shows
If condensation is the cause, we explain it, and suggest how the roof space could be better ventilated. It saves chasing a leak that isn’t there.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Take photos of anything that changes.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Fordham
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of All Saints, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Fordham is about 5 miles north-west of Colchester, in Essex. Surveys in Fordham work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
We work across CO6 for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Church Road, Herring's Way and Sunnyside Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Fordham Heath (1 mile south), Gallows Green (1 mile south), Wormingford (2 miles north), West Bergholt (2 miles east) and Little Horkesley (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (5 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (11 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
What’s near Fordham
In Fordham, that means homes and buildings near The Three Horseshoes Public House and the streets around them. Fordham’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, about 1.9 miles west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Severalls Hospital (3.9 miles east) and Mount Bures (2.9 miles north-west). Not far away are Sergeants Orchard.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.