Portsmouth · London and the South East
Portsmouth Roof Leak Investigation
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in Portsmouth. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
For landlords and managing agents
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 around your tenants.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Roof leak investigation in Portsmouth
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is part of the Premium Survey, and moisture detection comes with Standard. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Typical surveys look at damp patches next to the stack and water dripping from rafters or underlay, on rooflights and dormers, the roof space and lead flashings.
Storms tend to hit many roofs in an area at once. An independent record of what can be seen, with photographs, helps you explain the damage or the leak to whoever deals with it next. What a report cannot do is decide an insurance claim: that’s up to the insurer. Wear and tear is usually excluded, so it’s useful to know what is old and what is new.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Place
- Portsmouth (PO6, PO4, PO1, PO2)
- Region
- Portsmouth
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Portsmouth
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Helping us price your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- The address and postcode of the property
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Portsmouth?
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.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Manor Infant School, a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Portsmouth roofs and the weather
Portsmouth lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
For hotels and guest houses around Portsmouth, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. If you run a business near Tricorn Centre, water through a ceiling can damage stock and close a sales floor, so the source needs finding fast.
Portsmouth is in England. Portsmouth is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across the surrounding area.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: PO6, PO4, PO1 and PO2. We cover properties on Church Road, April Square and Rudmore Square. With the A3 and A27 close by, Portsmouth is simple for us to get to. We also cover the places around Portsmouth: Rudmore (1 mile north-west), Landport (1 mile south-west), North End (1 mile north), Fratton (1 mile south-east) and Kingston (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Wymering (3 miles north), Paulsgrove (3 miles north), Drayton (3 miles north-east) and Farlington (3 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Portsmouth
We work in homes and buildings around The Portsmouth Academy, Alexandra Park and St Edmund's Catholic School, among other places. The closest station to Portsmouth is Fratton station, roughly 0.9 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west) and Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (within half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. For a commercial building or block in Portsmouth, roof access is agreed with whoever manages it ahead of the visit. For homes, clear the way to the loft hatch and tell us about any leaks you know of. The written report follows, with photographs.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe vantage point.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Portsmouth: your questions answered
Is my home in Portsmouth listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Do you cover Portsmouth?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can every leak be traced?
We can’t promise it. Water can travel a long way, and some leaks only show in particular storms. Where the source is not certain, we list the likely routes in order.
How do I arrange a roof leak investigation in Portsmouth?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
Often, yes. Stains, tide marks, damp timbers and moisture readings usually point the way. Intermittent leaks can be harder, so photos and notes from when it leaks help a lot.
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.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.