West Sussex · London and the South East
Shipley Roof Leak Investigation
Wondering about the leaking roof at a property in Shipley? We carry out roof leak investigations in Shipley and across West Sussex.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Damp on a chimney breast
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Record whether it leaks in every downpour or only some
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
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.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
Roof leak investigation in Shipley: what you get
Flat roofs leak in their own ways. Common causes are splits and blisters, tired upstands and outlets that don’t drain. Standing water puts extra pressure on every weak point. We check both the covering and the room underneath to narrow it down. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. If you’re worried about damp on a chimney breast and leaks below a flat extension roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
Many homes in small places like Shipley face open ground, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photographs is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Location
- Shipley (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit typically takes about one to two hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere like Shipley needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Why act early in Shipley
Water damage grows the longer it is left. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What affects the price in Shipley
When we price a survey, we consider:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shipley
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Nearby places to Shipley
Other services in Shipley
Shipley roofs and the weather
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. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your 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, so check with the council.
For an older house near a landmark such as The Church of St Mary the Virgin, leaks on older roofs frequently start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks. Take a building like Shipley CofE Primary School: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Shipley is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. Shipley is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Shipley is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
All of RH13 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Church Close and School Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you are just outside Shipley, we cover Whitehall (1 mile south-west), Dragons Green (1 mile north), Broomer's Corner (1 mile south-west), Dial Post (2 miles south) and West Grinstead (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (11 miles south), Haywards Heath (12 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles east) and Littlehampton (14 miles south-west).
Near you in Shipley
The nearest railway station is Billingshurst station, roughly 4 miles north-west of the centre. Open spaces near Shipley include Knepp Wildland.
FAQs for Shipley
Is Shipley in the area you cover?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Shipley is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you come out to Shipley?
Yes. Shipley is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Is there anything I need to do before the visit?
Keep a note of when it leaks, and take photos. Clear access to the loft. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
Thermal imaging is used where it’s useful, and it’s part of the Premium Survey. It shows temperature differences, not water itself, so we confirm its findings with moisture readings.
Can a leak be traced on a dry day?
In most cases, yes. Damp materials can be found without rain. For leaks that only happen in certain storms, we report the most likely routes.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Shipley?
Flat roofs fail with age and wear. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and splits, blisters and lifting laps let water in. Leaks frequently start at the edges, upstands and outlets.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
For landlords with property near Billingshurst station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?