West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Merston, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the leaking roof at your property in Merston from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Stains around a skylight
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Merston
Some ‘leaks’ are not leaks at all. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, and the stains look much like a leak. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, because they need very different work. The pattern of the damp, the ventilation and the timing all help us decide. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, flat roof details and the roof space, and people most often book us about leaks that appear only in driving rain and wet patches high on an inside wall.
In a village or hamlet like Merston, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We look at everything that’s safely in view and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
If any part of the leaking roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Merston (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price roof leak investigations
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Wind, rain and roofs in Merston
Merston is within about 4 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. In a coastal gale, rain is driven sideways into laps, verges and flashings. In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Take a building like North Mundham Primary School: water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Giles, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. Historic houses such as Goodwood House, about 3.5 miles north, show how far back building around Merston goes. Older roofs around here can leak at old repairs as readily as at original details.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Roofs in Merston get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Across West Sussex, we cover Merston and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
We work across the PO20 postcode area for roof leak investigations. If you’re just outside Merston, we cover Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Around Merston
Around Merston, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Chichester High School For Girls, among other places. The closest station to Merston is Chichester station, roughly 2.3 miles west. Well-known places in the area include The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
Nearby places to Merston
What else we do in Merston
Useful tips for Merston property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Let us know what has already been tried
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Plan a roof survey every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leak that returns after a repair normally means the real source wasn’t found. A careful investigation looks at every likely route, not just the obvious one. That’s frequently what breaks the cycle. For an older or listed building in a place like Merston, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
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.
Why book us in Merston
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Merston can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe viewpoint.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Questions from Merston
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Merston?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows, and Merston is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Is my home in Merston listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can every leak be traced?
We can’t promise it. Water can travel a long way, and some leaks only show in particular storms. Where the source is not certain, we list the likely routes in order.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it is part of the Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so anything it suggests is checked with moisture readings.
How do I book a survey in Merston?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
How much does a roof leak investigation cost in Merston?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Honest limits
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space