Surrey · London and the South East
Outwood Roof Leak Investigation
Roof leak investigations around Outwood, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
What we are asked to look at in Outwood
A chimney stack has lots of places for rain to get in. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. The damp may appear on a chimney breast, a ceiling or in the loft.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Stains around a skylight
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Condensation that looks like a leak
If you own a rental within reach of Salfords station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Before booking anyone
- What experience they bring
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will the report include photos?
Roof leak investigation in Outwood: what you get
A leak that comes and goes can be the hardest to pin down. Driving rain from one direction, melting snow or a gutter that overflows in a downpour can all set it off. Notes on when it leaks, and what the weather was doing, help us, along with any photos you’ve taken. Even on a dry day, a leak normally leaves clues: stained timbers, tide marks and damp underlay. Moisture detection shows which materials are still damp. We survey chimney stacks, rooflights and dormers and slate and tile slopes, and people most often book us about brown rings on upstairs ceilings and leaks at a dormer or roof window.
Being in a small place like Outwood makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: the journey and access are just planned ahead of time. It helps to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Outwood (RH1)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Around Outwood, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the roof space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Common questions in Outwood
How do I find out if my home in Outwood is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Outwood?
Yes, Outwood is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Is there anything I need to do before the visit?
Clear the loft hatch so we can get into the roof space. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Can you always find the source?
We can’t promise it. Some leaks hide well, particularly those that need wind-driven rain. If we cannot be sure, the report ranks the possible sources.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair isn’t part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Towns and villages near Outwood
Other services in Outwood
When you need someone else
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Putting the leak right
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely, and look for signs of past overflowing.
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Damp loft insulation loses much of its value. Insulation can soak up water quietly before anything shows below. Catching it early limits what has to be replaced. Older cottages and farmhouses around Outwood can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Surveys seven days a week
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- An independent view of the roof
Leaks and storm damage in Outwood
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St John the Baptist, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in. Take a building like Oakwood School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Outwood is about 3 miles east of Horley, in Surrey. Roofs in Outwood get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Surrey. Outwood is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work. Crawley is in our area too.
Here we cover the RH1 postcode area for roof leak investigations. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Miller's Lane, Bellwether Lane and Scott's Hill or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Outwood: Smallfield (1 mile south), Horley (3 miles west), Burstow (3 miles south), Fernhill (3 miles south-west) and Keeper's Corner (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Epsom (12 miles north-west), Redhill (4 miles north-west), Ewell (13 miles north-west), Reigate (5 miles north-west), Caterham (7 miles north) and Dorking (10 miles west).
Local landmarks in Outwood
Around Outwood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Castle pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Salfords station, about 2.2 miles west. A little further out are Effingham Park Motor Museum (3.7 miles south) and East Surrey Hospital (2.9 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Bay Pond and Hedgecourt Lake.