Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Northaw Roof Leak Investigation
A careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Northaw, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Somewhere like Northaw needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the roof space above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, like flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it is useful.
- We email a report with photos, the likely entry point and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Northaw
Some ‘leaks’ aren’t leaks at all. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, leaving marks that look just like rainwater. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, since the cure for one won’t solve the other. The pattern of the damp, the ventilation and the timing all help us decide. Common reasons to book are damp ceilings under a flat roof and staining around the chimney inside, on rooflights and dormers, chimney stacks and slate and tile slopes.
For a small place like Northaw, the inspection is the same as anywhere: the journey and access are just planned beforehand. It helps to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Northaw (EN6)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof leak investigations in Northaw: local notes
The wider area around Northaw has a long history of building, with Wyllyotts Manor about 2.1 miles west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Landlords with a home close to Cuffley station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Thomas A Becket, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Northaw Church of England Primary School, a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Northaw is about 2 miles north-east of Potters Bar, in Hertfordshire. We visit Northaw as part of our work across Hertfordshire, for homes and businesses alike. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Northaw. London is in our area too.
We work across EN6 for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Vineyards Road, Church Lane and Northaw Road West and the roads around them. Other places close to Northaw include Cuffley (1 mile east), Brookmans Park (2 miles north-west), Newgate Street (2 miles north-east), Bell Bar (2 miles north-west) and Little Berkhamsted (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Watford (11 miles west), Hemel Hempstead (14 miles west), Stevenage (14 miles north), St Albans (8 miles west), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles north) and Harpenden (12 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Northaw
Typical jobs here are in homes near Two Brewers Public House and Mount Grace School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Cuffley station, about 1.6 miles east. A little further out are Potters Bar Museum (2.1 miles west) and Chase Farm Hospital (3.3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Fir and Pond Woods.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northaw
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Other services in Northaw
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Carrying out the fix
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
Different roofs, different checks
Parapet and box gutters
Linings, joints and outlets are inspected wherever it is safe.
Lead flashings
Some roofs have mortar where you’d expect lead. Fillets crack and pull away over time, and water runs down behind them.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes one in person. You can ask us about anything that isn’t clear.
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.
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It’s useful to include:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The kind of building and roof involved
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Northaw questions
Do you cover Northaw?
Yes, Northaw is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Northaw listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a 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.
How long does the visit take?
Allow about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How much is a survey?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.