Essex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Old Heath
Roof leak investigations across Old Heath, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
How a roof leak investigation works in Old Heath
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. Telling the two apart matters, since the cure for one will not solve the other. We check the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. If you are worried about damp patches next to the stack and wet patches on loft insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a smaller place like Old Heath, some roofs face open ground, so wind and driving rain find any weakness in ridges, verges and flashings. A leak that only appears in certain weather often points to an exposed detail. Tell us when it happens when you get in touch. The gutters on the most exposed side can overflow too.
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, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Old Heath (CO2, CO1, CO4)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leak near lights or wiring needs attention quickly. If water is reaching a light fitting or switch, keep clear of it. Then the source needs tracing. In a smaller place like Old Heath, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Wind gets under it and lifts more.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Old Heath is booked with the forecast in mind: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Likely entry points outside are checked, from flashings and valleys to gutters and outlets.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photos, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
What affects the price in Old Heath
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How big the roof is
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The address and postcode of the property
- What made you get in touch
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Common roof problems in Old Heath
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can push water under the slates or tiles. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Old Heath Community Primary School, a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What experience they bring
- Their insurance cover
- How soon the report will arrive
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
We check the outside of the stack and the breast inside, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection.
Parapet and box gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley gutter in the middle. If that gutter or its outlet fails, water can come through the top-floor ceiling.
Common questions in Old Heath
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Old Heath, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows.
Is my home in Old Heath listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
Why isn’t the leak directly above the stain?
Water rarely drops straight down. It runs along rafters, battens or underlay before it drips, so the entry point is often well away from the mark. We follow the route back instead of guessing.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
A survey is a close look at the leaking roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- Carrying out the fix
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Places near Old Heath
More services for Old Heath
Wind, rain and roofs in Old Heath
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Old Heath, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain finds any gap they leave. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
Landlords with a home close to Hythe station may find that a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. For an older house near a landmark such as St Barnabas, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Old Heath is about 1 mile south of Greenstead, in Essex. We visit Old Heath as part of our work across Essex. Our Essex coverage includes Old Heath. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across CO2, CO1 and CO4 for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Wick Road, Haven Road and D'arcy Road. If you’re just outside Old Heath, we cover The Hythe (1 mile north), Berechurch (1 mile south-west), Rowhedge (1 mile south-east), Greenstead (1 mile north) and Wivenhoe Cross (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Clacton-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Maldon (14 miles south-west), Witham (13 miles west), Harwich (15 miles east), Halstead (13 miles west) and Heybridge (13 miles south-west).
Near you in Old Heath
Around Old Heath, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Bell pub, Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College and Donyland Lodge, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Hythe station, roughly 1 mile north of the centre. A little further out are Essex County Hospital (1.9 miles north-west) and Grandad's Photography Museum (1.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Old Heath includes Cockaynes Wood.