West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Sharpthorne
Find out what’s going on with the leaking roof before you spend money on it. Roof leak investigations in Sharpthorne.
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Each flat roof relies on its outlets to drain. A blocked outlet leaves water standing, which tests every joint. Outlets and the area around them are checked.
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely.
About our roof leak investigation in Sharpthorne
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 and so do photos. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. Common reasons to book are water dripping from rafters or underlay and drips from nail tips in a cold loft, across rooflights and dormers, valleys and parapet gutters and slate and tile slopes.
For a small place like Sharpthorne, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It helps to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, plus any earlier repairs. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
If any part of the leaking roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Sharpthorne (RH19)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Sharpthorne
Is Sharpthorne within the area you cover?
Yes. Sharpthorne is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sharpthorne?
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. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How do I book a survey in Sharpthorne?
It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey seven days a week.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Do you look in the roof space?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
Can you always find the source?
Not always, and we will be honest about that. Some leaks hide well, especially those that need wind-driven rain. Where the source isn’t certain, we list the likely routes in order.
Also near Sharpthorne
Also in Sharpthorne
Leaks and storm damage in Sharpthorne
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. The wider area around Sharpthorne has a long history of building, with Priest House about 0.5 miles west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
The streets around a church like St Margaret's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. Take a building like West Hoathly CofE Primary School: water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Sharpthorne is about 4 miles south of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. We visit Sharpthorne as part of our work across West Sussex. Sharpthorne is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. You can also see our page for Crawley.
We cover every part of the RH19 postcode area for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Station Road, Marlpit Road and Bayhams Field or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Sharpthorne: West Hoathly (1 mile west), Highbrook (2 miles south), Selsfield Common (2 miles north-west), Little London (2 miles south-west) and Birchgrove (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (7 miles west), Horsham (12 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-west), East Grinstead (4 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles west).
What’s near Sharpthorne
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Fox pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is East Grinstead station, roughly 3.6 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Waterbury Castle (2.6 miles south) and East Grinstead Museum (3.7 miles north-east). The countryside around Sharpthorne includes Hedgecourt Lake.
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Make sure the loft is accessible
Once the work is done, hold on to the report. If water appears again, it shows what was found before.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Blocked outlets on parapet and flat roofs cause many leaks. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
What we are asked to look at in Sharpthorne
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.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Wet patches on loft insulation
If you let a flat or house near East Grinstead station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- When you will get the report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
What we cannot see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Sharpthorne
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. As for time on site, it typically takes between one and two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Around Sharpthorne, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- We look at the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it’s useful.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
What happens if roof problems are left?
Patching the spot above the stain often does not work. The real way in may be a metre or more away. We find the probable source before anyone starts work, so the repair is aimed at the right place. Outbuildings and barns around Sharpthorne are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Sharpthorne
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Surveys seven days a week
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See our cost guide and two real surveys.