West Sussex · London and the South East
Furnace Wood Roof Leak Investigation
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Furnace Wood, with photos and a written report.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
Roof leak investigation in Furnace Wood: what you get
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, chimney stacks and rooflights and dormers, and common reasons people get in touch are wet patches on loft insulation and damp underlay across a wide area.
In a village or hamlet like Furnace Wood, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, particularly to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Furnace Wood (RH19)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Valleys
Debris in a valley slows the water and pushes it sideways. During a downpour, water can back up under the coverings.
Parapet and box gutters
Hidden gutters run behind parapets or between roofs. A blocked outlet sends water over the lining and into the building.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Leave it or get it looked at?
Damp in a ceiling or loft can lead to mould. Once mould takes hold, it is harder to clear. Stopping the water is the first step. For older village homes like those around Furnace Wood, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Furnace Wood
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
- Plain-English reports with photos
- An independent look at the roof
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Furnace Wood
Do you cover smaller places like Furnace Wood?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is my home in Furnace Wood listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photos, covering the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We point out what can be seen, like sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Nearby places to Furnace Wood
What else we do in Furnace Wood
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a hamlet or village like Furnace Wood, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You tell us where the water shows and when it appears.
- We check the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Roof leak investigations around Furnace Wood
With Saint Hill Manor about 3 miles south-east, Furnace Wood sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
If you own a rental within reach of East Grinstead station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. Take a building like Felbridge Primary School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Furnace Wood is about 3 miles west of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. We visit Furnace Wood as part of our work across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Across West Sussex, we cover Furnace Wood and the places around it. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: RH19. We offer roof leak investigations to properties on Lake View Road, Felcot Road and Furnace Farm Road. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Domewood (1 mile north-west), Snow Hill (1 mile west), Felbridge (1 mile east), Crawley Down (1 mile south) and Newchapel (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (6 miles west), Horsham (12 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south), Burgess Hill (13 miles south), East Grinstead (3 miles east) and Broadfield (7 miles south-west).
What’s near Furnace Wood
We work in homes and buildings around Imberhorne School. For rail, the closest station is East Grinstead station, roughly 2.5 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Effingham Park Motor Museum (0.9 miles west) and Queen Victoria Hospital (3.1 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Hedgecourt Lake.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Don’t touch fittings that water is reaching
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, and suggest how the roof space could be better ventilated. It saves chasing a leak that is not there.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, especially in autumn. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Use a professional rather than climbing up yourself.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.