Hampshire · London and the South East
Knowle Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Knowle, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
What we can’t see
It’s a careful look at the leaking roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
How a roof leak investigation works in Knowle
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Worn lead, tired valley linings and blocked parapet outlets are frequent causes. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit. Parapet walls and their gutters are looked at from wherever it’s safe. The findings are recorded with photos. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, flat roof details and slate and tile slopes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are water marks that spread in wet weather and staining around the chimney inside.
Being in a small place like Knowle makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Tell us where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, plus any earlier repairs. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Knowle (PO17)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Knowle property owners
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Let us know if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Leave roof access to professionals
Keep the report after the work is done. If the leak returns, it’s a useful record of what was found.
Plan a roof survey every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and catching wear early keeps water out.
Towns and villages near Knowle
Also in Knowle
Landlords, agents and block managers in Knowle
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. In a small place like Knowle, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
The upturned edge of a flat roof covering keeps water out at walls. A low or cracked upstand is a common way in.
Parapet and box gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley gutter in the middle. Problems there often show in the rooms on the top floor.
FAQs for Knowle
Is my home in Knowle listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Knowle?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Knowle is within about 4 miles of the coast.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. The loft space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
When to book a survey in Knowle
Flashings are one of the commonest sources of roof leaks. Where a roof meets a chimney, a wall or a dormer, lead or mortar seals the joint. Once that seal cracks or lifts, water gets behind it, often well away from where it shows.
We are often asked to look at:
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Orchard Lea Infant School, a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Questions to ask before you book
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
Roof leak investigations around Knowle
Knowle is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather. 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.
If you run a business near Fareham Shopping Centre, finding where water is getting in quickly keeps disruption down. If you live in an older home near Church of St Francis, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Knowle is about 2 miles north of Fareham, in Hampshire. Knowle is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire, large and small. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Roof leak investigations in PO17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as Serotine Close, Boundary Walk and Park Approach, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Knowle: Funtley (1 mile south), Tapnage (1 mile north-west), Heathfield (2 miles south), Segensworth (2 miles west) and Titchfield Park (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Winchester (13 miles north), Gosport (6 miles south-east), Havant (10 miles east), Eastleigh (9 miles north-west), Horndean (9 miles east) and Totton (13 miles west).
Around Knowle
We work in homes and buildings around The Miners Arms and The Henry Cort Community College. Knowle’s nearest station is Fareham station, about 2 miles south. A little further out are Portchester Castle (4.9 miles south-east) and Knowle Hospital (within half a mile north-east). For a walk, there’s Portsdown Hill and Swanwick Lakes.