Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Skinner's Hill
Roof leak investigations in Skinner's Hill from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Stains around a skylight
Skinner's Hill questions
Do you cover smaller places like Skinner's Hill?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is the coastal weather around Skinner's Hill hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found.
About our roof leak investigation in Skinner's Hill
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. 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, along with any photos you’ve taken. Even on a dry day, a leak typically leaves clues: stained timbers, tide marks and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. If you are worried about leaks that appear only in driving rain and drips in the loft during heavy rain, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Skinner's Hill, older cottages and farmhouses often have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We look at whatever is safely visible and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it is worth finding the cause soon.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Skinner's Hill (PO36)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a roof leak investigation starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Use a professional rather than climbing up yourself.
Nearby places to Skinner's Hill
Also in Skinner's Hill
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof details
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It normally takes an hour or two for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Skinner's Hill can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we look at 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 viewpoint.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A stack has several possible ways in for rain. We check each one as far as we can safely see, and look for damp on the breast inside.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.
Leaks and storm damage in Skinner's Hill
Skinner's Hill lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain finds any gap they leave, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. Some villages on the Isle of Wight still have thatched roofs, and the whole island is open to sea air and wind. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed.
Anyone responsible for a site like Newchurch Primary School will know that on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. Historic houses like Haseley Manor, about 1.2 miles west, show how far back building around Skinner's Hill goes. Older roofs around here can leak at old repairs as readily as at original details. For landlords with property near Sandown station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Skinner's Hill is about 5 miles south of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. We carry out roof leak investigations in Skinner's Hill for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our the Isle of Wight coverage includes Skinner's Hill. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Surveys in PO36 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Skinner's Hill and Hill Top or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you are just outside Skinner's Hill, we cover Queen's Bower (1 mile south-east), Alverstone Garden Village (1 mile north-east), Alverstone (1 mile east), Lake (2 miles south-east) and Sandown (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (5 miles north-west), Ryde (5 miles north), Cowes (8 miles north-west), Ventnor (5 miles south), East Cowes (7 miles north-west) and Oakfield (4 miles north-east). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so let us know where you are when you book.
Landmarks near Skinner's Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Sandown Bay Academy and The Pointer Inn, among other places. The nearest railway station is Sandown station, roughly 1.7 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (2 miles south-east) and Sandown Castle (2.3 miles east). The countryside around Skinner's Hill includes Alverstone Mead and Brading Down.