Surrey · London and the South East
Sidlow Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof in Sidlow, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Stains around a skylight
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Sidlow
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, so age is part of the picture. We are often asked to look into damp underlay across a wide area and water marks that spread in wet weather, across flat roof details, chimney stacks and rooflights and dormers.
Roofs in small places like Sidlow often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photos 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, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Sidlow (RH2)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used instead of lead. Fillets crack and pull away over time, letting rain run behind the joint.
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.
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. In a hamlet or village like Sidlow, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Questions from Sidlow
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sidlow?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover Sidlow?
Yes, Sidlow is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Sidlow as anywhere else.
What does the report include?
Written findings 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.
Is there anything I need to do ahead of the visit?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing, and take photos. Clear access to the loft. Keep away from any light or socket that water is reaching.
How much does a roof leak investigation cost in Sidlow?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
It can, when the conditions are right. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, which can show up on the image. Its findings are confirmed with a moisture check.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we’ll agree the details when booking.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a roof leak investigation starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Move stored items away from the hatch
Keep the report after the work is done. If water appears again, it shows what was found before, which makes the next step quicker.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Take photos of anything that changes.
Sidlow roofs and the weather
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Take an older house close to Emmanuel Church: lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in. Living close to Earlswood Common is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Sidlow is about 2 miles south of Reigate, in Surrey. In Sidlow, as across Surrey, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Surrey coverage includes Sidlow and the places around it. There is also a page for Crawley.
Roof leak investigations in RH2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover Irons Bottom (1 mile south-west), South Park (1 mile north), Leigh (2 miles west), Reigate (2 miles north) and Dawesgreen (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Epsom (9 miles north), Redhill (3 miles north-east), Ewell (10 miles north), Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Caterham (7 miles north-east) and Dorking (6 miles west).
Landmarks near Sidlow
Typical jobs here are in homes near Earlswood Common, Reigate School and Burys Court School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Salfords station, roughly 1.8 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Reigate Priory Museum (2 miles north) and East Surrey Hospital (1.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Colley Hill and Reigate Heath.
Common roof problems in Sidlow
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. On slate roofs, slipping is often caused by corroded nails.
Look out for signs like these:
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Stains around a skylight
If you let a flat or house near Salfords station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Will the report include photos?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.