West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Poling
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Poling, with photographs and a written report.
- Stains around a skylight
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Poling
Our job is to find the likely source and tell you. The report shows, with photos, where we believe the water gets in and how it travels, and recommends what should be done. Whoever does the work then has a clear starting point. The investigation finds and explains the cause, while the repair is a separate matter. If you’ve noticed leaks that appear only in driving rain and ceiling stains that grow after rain, we can find out what’s behind it, on valleys and parapet gutters, the roof space and rooflights and dormers alike.
Roofs in small places like Poling often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Poling (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Around Poling, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with what you’ve seen: where the stain is and when it gets worse.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Outside, we check every likely route in.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Poling
More services for Poling
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, with recommendations on ventilation. It saves chasing a leak that isn’t there.
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.
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Poling
When a slate slips or a tile cracks, the underlay takes the water. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Stains around a skylight
If you look after a building such as The Littlehampton Academy, a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Leaks and storm damage in Poling
Poling lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
With Ecclesden Manor about 2 miles east, the area around Poling has a long history. On older roofs nearby, leaks frequently trace back to lead flashings, valleys and gutters. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Nicholas, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Poling is about 2 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We provide roof leak investigations for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Poling. Poling is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover for roof leak investigations. Brighton is in our area too.
Surveys in BN18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you are just outside Poling, we cover Crossbush (1 mile north-west), Warningcamp (1 mile north-west), Toddington (1 mile south-west), Lyminster (2 miles west) and Rustington (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (5 miles east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles west), Selsey (14 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles east) and Lancing (8 miles east).
Landmarks near Poling
Poling’s nearest station is Arundel station, about 1.6 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Rustington Museum (2 miles south) and Zachary Merton Hospital (2.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Highdown Hill and WWT Arundel.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Poling
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Anything about access we should know
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. A low or cracked upstand is a common way in.
Poling: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Poling?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is the coastal weather around Poling hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Poling is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Water rarely drops straight down. It can follow a timber or the underlay a long way first, so the stain may be some distance from where it gets in. That’s why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.