West Sussex · London and the South East
Petworth Roof Leak Investigation
Find out the condition of the leaking roof at your property in Petworth. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
Roof leak investigation in Petworth: what you get
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Worn lead, tired valley linings and blocked parapet outlets are frequent causes. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit. Parapet walls and their gutters are checked from wherever it is safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. We survey flat roof details, chimney stacks and slate and tile slopes, and people most frequently book us about drips from nail tips in a cold loft and brown rings on upstairs ceilings.
Roofs in small places like Petworth often stand in the open, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Petworth (GU28)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Petworth, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- We look at the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- Likely entry points outside are checked, from flashings and valleys to gutters and outlets.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it’s useful.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Getting a price
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leak rarely stays small. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Tracing it now means less to put right later. Older and listed buildings around Petworth may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Petworth questions
How do I find out if my home in Petworth is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Petworth?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Where conditions suit, it can. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
How much does a roof leak investigation cost in Petworth?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Petworth
Landlords, agents and building managers in Petworth and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Common roof problems in Petworth
Many leaks begin at a flashing. Where a roof meets a chimney, a wall or a dormer, lead or mortar seals the joint. When lead lifts or splits, or a mortar fillet cracks, rain runs straight in, often well away from where it shows.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Stains around a skylight
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
If you live in an older home near Sacred Heart Church, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Before booking anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How soon the report will arrive
- What the survey will not cover
- Are they insured for the work?
How the survey changes by roof type
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
Parapet and box gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley gutter in the middle. Problems there often show in the rooms on the top floor.
Wind, rain and roofs in Petworth
The wider area around Petworth has a long history of building, with Petworth House about 0.3 miles north. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
For landlords with property near Pulborough station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. Anyone responsible for a site like Petworth Cof E Primary School will know that a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Petworth is about 12 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We carry out roof leak investigations in Petworth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. There’s also a page for Guildford.
All of GU28 is covered for roof leak investigations. Streets in the area include Station Road, Back Lane and Rosemary Lane, and we cover them all. Being close to the A272 and A283, Petworth is simple for us to get to. If you are just outside Petworth, we cover Hampers Green (1 mile north), Haslingbourne (1 mile south-east), Tillington (1 mile west), Rotherbridge (1 mile south-west) and Upperton (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (14 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (12 miles south) and Rustington (13 miles south).
Around Petworth
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Old Square Tavern, among other places. Petworth’s nearest station is Pulborough station, roughly 4.4 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Coates Castle (2.6 miles south) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (1.2 miles south). Open spaces near Petworth include The Mens.
How we price roof leak investigations
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Roof area
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What’s prompted the survey
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.