Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Putney, Greater London
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in Putney. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Wet patches on loft insulation
Roof leak investigation in Putney: what you get
Not every drip is a leak. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, and the stains look much like a leak. Telling the two apart matters, because they need very different work. The pattern of the damp, the ventilation and the timing all help us decide. Common reasons to book are water that shows only in certain storms and leaks at a dormer or roof window, on slate and tile slopes, chimney stacks and valleys and parapet gutters.
In London, leaks often start somewhere hidden: a butterfly roof’s central valley gutter, a parapet gutter, a chimney flashing or a flat roof over a back addition. For a leak or storm damage in Putney, those hidden details are where the inspection begins. Water from a hidden gutter can run along joists and show up a room or two away.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Location
- Putney (SW15, SW19, SW13)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a London area like Putney, the main things to sort out are parking and access: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
If the leak turns out to be condensation, the report says so, with recommendations on ventilation. That avoids roof work that wouldn’t help.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Take photos of anything that changes.
Why get it checked now?
Guesswork repairs are a common reason leaks keep coming back. The real way in may be a metre or more away. We find the probable source before anyone starts work. London’s older roofs often have bitumen felt underlay or none at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left alone, that means wet timbers and plaster, which is a far bigger job than the roof fault itself.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Putney
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Plain-English reports with photos
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
For landlords and managing agents
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What this survey can’t tell you
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof details
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
FAQs for Putney
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Putney?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Putney in the area you cover?
Yes, Putney is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Putney as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
What should I do before you arrive?
Make sure the loft can be reached. Have any photos of the leak ready, and tell us about past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Can you always find the source?
We cannot promise it. Some leaks hide well, particularly those that need wind-driven rain. If we cannot be sure, the report ranks the possible sources.
Do you look in the loft space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Why is the stain in a different place from the leak?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. On a flat roof it can travel under the covering before it shows. Following that route is what our investigation does.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Putney roofs and the weather
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, frequently with Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. About 0.6 miles north-east lies Fulham Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Putney has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Homes near green spaces such as Bishops Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Shop and office owners around Putney Exchange may find that water through a ceiling can damage stock and close a sales floor, so the source needs finding fast. Take an older house close to Polish Church of St John the Evangelist: water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
Putney is about 1 mile south-west of Fulham, in Greater London. Putney is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Putney is one of the places in Greater London where we work. We also survey roofs in London.
All of SW15, SW19 and SW13 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Putney High Street, Upper Richmond Road and Spencer Walk. Putney is on the A3 and B306, which makes it simple to reach. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Roehampton (1 mile south-west), Barnes (1 mile north-west), Fulham (1 mile north-east), Mortlake (2 miles west) and Wimbledon Park (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include London (6 miles north-east), City of Westminster (5 miles north-east), Marylebone (5 miles north-east), Kensington (3 miles north), St Pancras (6 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (8 miles north-east).
Around Putney
In Putney, that means homes and buildings near Putney School of Art and Design, Bishops Park and The Railway pub and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Putney itself: Putney station. Nearby you will also find Putney Exchange (within half a mile east) and Antique Breadboard Museum (less than half a mile north-east). Green spaces nearby include Henman Hill and Battersea Park Lake.