East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Northease
Independent roof leak investigations in Northease. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Water that shows only in certain storms
Roof leak investigation in Northease: what you get
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. A central valley gutter on a butterfly roof frequently turns out to be the source. Parapet walls and their gutters are looked at from wherever it’s safe. The findings are recorded with photos. We are often asked to look into leaks at a dormer or roof window and water through the ceiling under a flat roof, across valleys and parapet gutters, lead flashings and the roof space.
For a small place like Northease, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It’s useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. If you have photographs of the water coming in, they help as well.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Northease (BN7)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Water damage grows the longer it’s left. Damp spreads into rafters, ceilings and insulation. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Older cottages and farmhouses around Northease can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- A photo-illustrated written report
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Older rural homes like those around Northease 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.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- We look at the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, like flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Common questions in Northease
Do you cover smaller places like Northease?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Northease listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Why doesn’t the damp patch line up with the hole?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a flat roof it can travel under the covering before it shows. Tracing that path is the heart of a leak investigation.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Report times depend on the package.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it is included in our Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so anything it suggests is checked with moisture readings.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used instead of lead. Fillets crack and pull away over time, letting rain run behind the joint.
Valleys
A valley leak can appear well away from the valley inside. From inside the roof space, we follow the water’s route back.
Also in Northease
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northease
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Northease
Northease lies within about 4 miles of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. Historic houses like Monk's House, about 0.7 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Northease goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Peter's Church, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks. Trees in and around Lewes and Laughton Levels shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Northease is about 3 miles south of Lewes, in East Sussex. We provide roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Northease and nearby. Northease is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
All of BN7 is within our area for roof leak investigations. Close by, we survey roofs in Rodmell (1 mile south-east), Iford (1 mile north-west), Kingston near Lewes (2 miles north-west), Southover (2 miles north) and Cliffe (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles east), Seaford (6 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Uckfield (10 miles north-east), Newhaven (4 miles south-east) and Peacehaven (3 miles south).
Around Northease
Typical jobs here are in homes near Lewes and Laughton Levels. The closest station to Northease is Southease station, about 1.4 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Lewes Castle (2.2 miles north) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (2.4 miles north). Open spaces near Northease include Southerham Farm and Itford Hill.
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Northease?
A gutter that overflows can soak a wall and mark the ceiling inside. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Anyone responsible for a site like Priory School will know that water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their track record with similar roofs