Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Hackney Wick, Greater London
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Hackney Wick, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Staining around the chimney inside
How a roof leak investigation works in Hackney Wick
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so we confirm what it suggests 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. If you’re worried about water through the ceiling under a flat roof and leaks at a dormer or roof window, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In London, leaks often start somewhere hidden: a butterfly roof’s central valley gutter, a parapet gutter, a chimney flashing or a flat roof over a back addition. For a leak or storm damage in Hackney Wick, those hidden details are where the inspection begins. Water from a hidden gutter can run along joists and show up a room or two away.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Hackney Wick (E3, E9, E20)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Hackney Wick roofs and the weather
The wider area around Hackney Wick has a long history of building, with Sutton House about 1.3 miles west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
If you let a flat or house near Hackney Wick station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. For an older house near a landmark like St Mary of Eton, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Hackney Wick is about 1 mile west of Stratford, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in Hackney Wick, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
Every address in E3, E9 and E20 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Wick Lane, Dace Road and Wyke Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Fish Island (1 mile south), Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile south-west), Old Ford (1 mile south), Temple Mills (1 mile north-east) and East Village (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Shoreditch (3 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Hackney Wick
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Mulberry UTC, Mabley Green and Mulberry UTC, among other places. Hackney Wick has its own railway station: Hackney Wick station. Nearby you will also find Tower of London (3.3 miles south-west) and V&A East (within half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Tower Hill and Old Ford Island.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
Common questions in Hackney Wick
How do I find out if my home in Hackney Wick 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 cover Hackney Wick?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What should I do before you arrive?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing. Move stored items away from the loft hatch. Keep away from any light or socket that water is reaching.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Hackney Wick
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Which survey package you book
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
To get a price for roof leak investigations in Hackney Wick, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A small drip today can be a bigger leak after the next storm. Each storm can open a gap a little more. Tracing it now lets you plan the work rather than react to it. Any roof job in Hackney Wick means planning around parking, neighbours and access. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly, rather than in a rush after a leak.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Hackney Wick
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Also near Hackney Wick
Also in Hackney Wick
Common roof problems in Hackney Wick
Many leaks begin at a flashing. Where a roof meets a chimney, a wall or a dormer, lead or mortar seals the joint. When lead lifts or splits, or a mortar fillet cracks, rain runs straight in.
Problems we come across often include:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
For businesses in and around places like Westfield Stratford City, water through a ceiling can damage stock and close a sales floor, so the source needs finding fast.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Are they insured for the work?
- What follow-up you get after the report
How it works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a London area like Hackney Wick, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at what can be seen safely from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe vantage point.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Let us know what has already been tried
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. We say which items need prompt attention, so you know what to deal with first.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, especially in autumn. Blocked outlets on parapet and flat roofs cause many leaks. Use a professional rather than climbing up yourself.