East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in North Chailey
We carry out roof leak investigations in North Chailey and the rest of East Sussex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- A structural engineer’s report
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in North Chailey
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
About our roof leak investigation in North Chailey
Our job is to find the likely source and tell you. You get a report with photos showing the likely entry point and the route the water is taking, plus recommendations on what needs attention. Whoever does the work then has a clear starting point. The investigation finds and explains the cause, and the repair itself is a separate job. We survey chimney stacks, slate and tile slopes and lead flashings, and people most often book us about drips from nail tips in a cold loft and water that shows only in certain storms.
Somewhere as small as North Chailey, older roofs have often been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you are thinking of an insurance claim. 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, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- North Chailey (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in North Chailey
Chimneys can let water in by several routes. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Stains around a skylight
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Condensation that looks like a leak
For an older house near a landmark like Church of Our Lady, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their report turnaround times
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Prices for roof leak investigations in North Chailey
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
What happens on the day
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Around North Chailey, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Related advice
Wind, rain and roofs in North Chailey
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
Take a building like Chailey Heritage School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside. If you own a rental within reach of Plumpton station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
North Chailey is about 4 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. Roofs in North Chailey get the same thorough look as anywhere else in East Sussex. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Every address in BN8 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Station Road, Downs View and Downs View Close, all of which we cover. North Chailey is on the A275, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to North Chailey include Chailey (1 mile south), Newick (1 mile east), South Street (2 miles south), Founthill (2 miles east) and Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (13 miles south).
Around North Chailey
Around North Chailey, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School and Chailey School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Plumpton station, about 3.6 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Heaven Farm Museum (3.4 miles north) and Waterbury Castle (4.7 miles north). Not far away are Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
Landlords, agents and block managers in North Chailey
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Let us know if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes one in person. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Air movement keeps condensation down, and condensation is a common false alarm. Check insulation doesn’t block airflow at the eaves.
Also near North Chailey
What else we do in North Chailey
Your questions about roof leak investigations in North Chailey
Is my home in North Chailey listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover North Chailey?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and North Chailey is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Could my leak actually be condensation?
The two can look alike. 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.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
How much does a roof leak investigation cost in North Chailey?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.