Hampshire · London and the South East
Hensting Roof Leak Investigation
Find out the condition of the leaking roof at your property in Hensting. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Stains around a skylight
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Different roofs, different checks
Slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip. One slipped slate can be enough to cause a leak, particularly in driving rain.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. In heavy rain, it can spill under the edges of the slates or tiles.
About our roof leak investigation in Hensting
On older houses, leaks often start at lead work and hidden gutters. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are looked at from wherever it is safe. The findings are recorded with photos. If you’ve noticed wet patches on loft insulation and damp on a chimney breast, we can find out what’s behind it, on the roof space, rooflights and dormers and valleys and parapet gutters alike.
Roofs in small places like Hensting often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Hensting (SO50)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Water damage grows the longer it is left. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
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. Do not go up yourself.
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Hensting often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the roof space above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. You can ask us about anything that isn’t clear.
Check the loft after heavy rain, with care and a good torch. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
Roof leak investigations around Hensting
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you own a rental within reach of Shawford station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of the Holy Trinity, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Hensting is about 3 miles north-east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. Whether the building in Hensting is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
All of SO50 is within our area for roof leak investigations. If you are just outside Hensting, we cover Owslebury (1 mile north-east), Owslebury Bottom (1 mile north-east), Baybridge (2 miles east), Morestead (2 miles north) and Lane End (4 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Winchester (4 miles north), Gosport (15 miles south-east), Eastleigh (3 miles south-west), Fareham (11 miles south), Horndean (14 miles south-east) and Totton (11 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Hensting
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Ship Inn. Hensting’s nearest station is Shawford station, about 2.2 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St John's Rooms And Chapel (4.3 miles north) and Eastleigh Museum (3.5 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Shawford Down and Twyford Down.
Other services in Hensting
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Hensting
Is my home in Hensting listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Hensting?
Yes. Hensting is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
Condensation can look very like a leak. Widespread damp on the underside of the roof in cold weather, with blocked vents, suggests condensation. We check the pattern of damp and the ventilation, then say which is most likely.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hensting
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Hensting. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.