West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in High Cross, West Sussex
Tracing where water is getting into your roof in High Cross, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Stains around a skylight
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Water that shows only in certain storms
Roof leak investigation in High Cross
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Flashings at chimneys and walls, valleys, gutters, parapets and flat roof upstands and outlets are the usual suspects. Each of these is checked in turn and we follow where the evidence leads. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We look at all of them, from every safe viewpoint. Common reasons to book are leaks at a dormer or roof window and water through the ceiling under a flat roof, on lead flashings, slate and tile slopes and valleys and parapet gutters.
Somewhere as small as High Cross, older roofs have often been repaired many times. 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.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- High Cross (BN6)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- A structural engineer’s report
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in High Cross
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Note the weather when the leak shows
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. It sets out where we believe the water is getting in, how it is travelling and what needs attention. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
Questions from High Cross
Do you cover smaller places like High Cross?
Yes, High Cross is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in High Cross?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
How fast do I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Is there anything I need to do ahead of the visit?
Clear the loft hatch so we can get into the roof space. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Can you find a leak when it is not raining?
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.
Can thermal imaging help find my roof leak?
Where conditions suit, it can. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a small place like High Cross, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
When to book a survey in High Cross
When a slate slips or a tile cracks, the underlay takes the water. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
Common reasons to book include:
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
If you own a rental within reach of Hassocks station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Before booking anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is added on top
Landlords, agents and block managers in High Cross
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Landlords, agents and building managers in High Cross and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Roof leak investigations around High Cross
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 the council is the place to ask. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. 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 your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St Bartholomew, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. Anyone responsible for a site like Albourne CofE Primary School will know that on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
High Cross is about 4 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We cover High Cross and the rest of West Sussex. High Cross is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for roof leak investigations. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Every address in BN6 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around High Cross: Albourne (1 mile south-east), Albourne Green (1 mile south-east), Albourne Street (1 mile south-east), Blackstone (1 mile south-west) and Twineham (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Crawley (12 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north-west), Worthing (11 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (4 miles east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles south).
Around High Cross
For rail, the closest station is Hassocks station, roughly 3.4 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (2.9 miles north-east) and Clayton Castle (3.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Wolstonbury Hill and Woods Mill.
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
You can learn a lot 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.