Essex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Sheering, Essex
Roof leak investigations around Sheering, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Stains around a skylight
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
Roof leak investigation in Sheering: what you get
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. We survey flat roof details, chimney stacks and slate and tile slopes, and common reasons people get in touch are damp patches next to the stack and water that shows only in certain storms.
Being in a small place like Sheering makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Let us know where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, plus any earlier repairs. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Sheering (CM22)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Sheering
Will you come out to Sheering?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sheering?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when you book.
Will I get photos?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
How the survey works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Somewhere like Sheering needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the roof space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from each safe vantage point.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Sheering
The wider area around Sheering has a long history of building, with Barrington Hall about 3.5 miles north-east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
Landlords with a home close to Sawbridgeworth station may find that a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Hatfield Heath Primary School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. If you live in an older home near Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Sheering is about 4 miles north-east of Harlow, in Essex. Sheering is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Essex coverage includes Sheering and the places around it. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Roof leak investigations in CM22 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, High Pastures and The Plashets and the roads around them. Other places close to Sheering include Lower Sheering (1 mile west), Sawbridgeworth (2 miles west), Gaston Green (2 miles north), Little Hallingbury (2 miles north) and Spellbrook (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (14 miles east), Harlow (4 miles south-west), Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (12 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (15 miles north) and Waltham Abbey (11 miles south-west).
Around Sheering
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Crown Inn, Gibberd Garden and Leventhorpe. Sheering’s nearest station is Sawbridgeworth station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Harlow Mill (2.6 miles west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (4.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Portingbury Hills and Sawbridgeworth Marsh.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
A leak at a flashing often shows some way from the joint. We check every flashing that could feed the stain.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. During a downpour, water can back up under the coverings.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Sheering
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the leaking roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A small drip today can be a bigger leak after the next storm. Wind lifts loose slates further and gaps widen. Tracing it now lets you plan the work rather than react to it. In a place like Sheering, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Every price we give includes VAT. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
- Every finding written up with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.