West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Sidlesham Common
Roof leak investigations across Sidlesham Common, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Stains around a skylight
About our roof leak investigation in Sidlesham Common
Leaks tend to begin where one part of a roof meets another. Flashings at chimneys and walls, valleys, gutters, parapets and flat roof upstands and outlets are the usual suspects. We check each likely route and follow the evidence. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We check all of them, from every safe vantage point. We survey slate and tile slopes, the roof space and rooflights and dormers, and the problems we are asked to look at most are stains around a skylight and staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall.
Being in a small place like Sidlesham Common makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: 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, along with any repairs done before. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Where we cannot see part of the leaking roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Sidlesham Common (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Parapet and box gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. If that gutter or its outlet fails, water can come through the top-floor ceiling.
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. In heavy rain, it can spill under the edges of the slates or tiles.
Roof leak investigations around Sidlesham Common
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Sidlesham Common, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in.
Sidlesham Common is about 3 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Sidlesham Common can all book roof leak investigations, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: PO20. Whether your property is on Chichester Road and Jury Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Sidlesham Common include Street End (1 mile south-east), Sidlesham (1 mile south), Fisher (1 mile east), Keynor Estate (2 miles south) and South Mundham (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (3 miles north), Selsey (4 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Around Sidlesham Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Blacksmith's Arms Public House. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, about 2.6 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Chichester Cathedral Treasury (2.9 miles north) and Chichester Castle (3.2 miles north). For a walk, there is Nutborne Marshes.
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Also near Sidlesham Common
More services for Sidlesham Common
When to book a survey in Sidlesham Common
Every flat roof covering has a working life. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and as it ages it splits, blisters and opens at the laps. Upstands and outlets are common weak points.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Stains around a skylight
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
- Check the loft is accessible
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. We say which items need prompt attention, so you know what to deal with first.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially in autumn. Blocked outlets on parapet and flat roofs cause many leaks. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
What happens on the day
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Cottages and farmhouses around Sidlesham Common frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- The visit starts indoors, at the stain and in the loft.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- 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
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Sidlesham Common: your questions answered
Is the coastal weather around Sidlesham Common hard on roofs?
It can do. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Sidlesham Common is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you cover smaller places like Sidlesham Common?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
What will the report tell me?
A written report with photos, covering the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.