Hampshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Freefolk
We carry out roof leak investigations in Freefolk and the rest of Hampshire. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Staining around the chimney inside
Why act early in Freefolk
Water damage grows the longer it’s left. Damp spreads into rafters, ceilings and insulation. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Freefolk
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A report with photos
- An independent look at the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Freefolk
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Typical surveys look at wet patches on loft insulation and drips from nail tips in a cold loft, on slate and tile slopes, lead flashings and the roof space.
Roofs in small places like Freefolk often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Freefolk (RG28)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Freefolk
Also in Freefolk
Freefolk: your questions answered
Is Freefolk within the area you cover?
Yes, Freefolk is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
How do I find out if my home in Freefolk is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
Where conditions suit, it can. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, which can show up on the image. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
What do I do with the report?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
In most cases, yes. Moisture detection shows where materials are damp even on a dry day. For leaks that only happen in certain storms, we report the most likely routes.
What we’re asked to look at in Freefolk
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can push water under the slates or tiles. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Wet patches on loft insulation
Landlords with a home close to Whitchurch (Hampshire) station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Will the report include photos?
- What happens after the report arrives
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Useful tips for Freefolk property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Let us know if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Plan a roof survey every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
What happens on the day
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Freefolk often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
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What this survey cannot tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Wherever a roof meets a wall or stack, a flashing keeps rain out. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.
Parapet and box gutters
Parapet and box gutters sit behind walls or inside the roof. When their outlets block, water rises over the lining and runs indoors.
Roof leak investigations around Freefolk
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. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Anyone responsible for a site like Testbourne Community School will know that water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Freefolk is about 8 miles east of Andover, in Hampshire. We cover Freefolk and the rest of Hampshire. Our Hampshire coverage includes Freefolk and the places around it. You can also see our page for Reading.
All of RG28 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on London Road and Priory Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Freefolk include Wells-in-the-Field (1 mile west), Whitchurch (1 mile west), Cole Henley (2 miles north-west), Firgo (3 miles south-west) and Hurstbourne Priors (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (9 miles east), Winchester (12 miles south), Andover (8 miles west), Tadley (11 miles north-east), Hook (15 miles east) and Hyde (12 miles south).
Landmarks near Freefolk
The nearest railway station is Whitchurch (Hampshire) station, about 1.4 miles west.