West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Maplehurst, West Sussex
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Maplehurst, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
About our roof leak investigation in Maplehurst
Flat roofs leak in their own ways. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. If you are worried about drips from nail tips in a cold loft and brown rings on upstairs ceilings, we can find out what’s behind it, on the roof space, valleys and parapet gutters and rooflights and dormers alike.
For a small place like Maplehurst, the inspection is the same as anywhere: the journey and access are just planned beforehand. Tell us where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, plus any earlier repairs. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Maplehurst (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leaks and storm damage in Maplehurst
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask.
If you let a flat or house near Christs Hospital station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Maplehurst is about 4 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Maplehurst and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our West Sussex coverage includes Maplehurst and the places around it. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Every address in RH13 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Nuthurst Road, Park Lane and Copsale Road. We also cover the places around Maplehurst: Nuthurst (1 mile north), Southwater (2 miles north-west), Tower Hill (4 miles north-west), Brooks Green (4 miles west) and Horsham (4 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (9 miles north-east), Worthing (13 miles south), Haywards Heath (9 miles east), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-east), East Grinstead (15 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south).
Local landmarks in Maplehurst
The closest station to Maplehurst is Christs Hospital station, about 3.8 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Horsham Hospital (4.3 miles north) and Christs Hospital School Museum (3.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Maplehurst includes Knepp Wildland.
When to book a survey in Maplehurst
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
Take a building like St Andrew's CofE Primary School: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Before booking anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Also near Maplehurst
Also in Maplehurst
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a roof leak investigation starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Do not touch fittings that water is reaching
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. We say which items need prompt attention.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely, and look for signs of past overflowing.
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. If it’s too low, cracked or poorly dressed, water gets behind it.
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Why it is worth a survey now in Maplehurst
Wet insulation doesn’t insulate well. A slow leak can soak it for months before a stain appears. The sooner the cause is found, the less needs replacing. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
What you get with us
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
What we do, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Maplehurst can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- 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.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Your questions about roof leak investigations in Maplehurst
How do I find out if my home in Maplehurst is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover Maplehurst?
Yes, Maplehurst is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Maplehurst as anywhere else.
Why does not the damp patch line up with the hole?
Because water travels. It can follow a timber or the underlay a long way first, so the entry point is frequently well away from the mark. That is why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Can every leak be traced?
We cannot promise to find every leak on one visit. Most leave clues we can follow, but intermittent leaks that need particular weather can be harder. We report what we found and the likeliest sources.
What happens after the survey?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.