West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Small Dole, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Small Dole, with photos and a written report.
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Small Dole
Not every drip is a leak. Condensation in a cold, poorly ventilated loft can drip from nails and timbers, leaving marks that look just like rainwater. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, since the cure for one won’t solve the other. The pattern of the damp, the ventilation and the timing all help us decide. If you’ve noticed drips from nail tips in a cold loft and damp ceilings under a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on the roof space, valleys and parapet gutters and lead flashings alike.
For a small place like Small Dole, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Let us know where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, along with any repairs done before. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Small Dole (BN5)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to see as much of the leaking roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Around Small Dole, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the loft space above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- Your report sets out where the water is most likely getting in, with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Towns and villages near Small Dole
Other services in Small Dole
What affects the price in Small Dole
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- House, block, shop or office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The roof’s overall size
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
We will usually ask about:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Small Dole: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Small Dole?
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 smaller places like Small Dole?
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 you book.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we’ll point you to the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What happens next?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we’ll agree the details when you book.
How long does a roof leak investigation take?
Allow an hour or two for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How the survey changes by roof type
Parapet and box gutters
We check the linings, joints and outlets where we can see them safely, and look for signs of past overflowing.
Chimney stacks
We look at the outside of the stack and the breast inside, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection.
What we are asked to look at in Small Dole
Flat roofs fail with age and wear. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and splits, blisters and lifting laps let water in. Leaks frequently start at the edges, upstands and outlets.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Stains around a skylight
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
If you live near a park such as Tottington Wood, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How soon the report will arrive
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.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Small Dole
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Small Dole. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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.
Small Dole roofs and the weather
Small Dole is within about 5 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. The wider area around Small Dole has a long history of building, with Portslade Manor about 4.8 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Landlords with a home close to Shoreham-By-Sea station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Small Dole is about 5 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. We cover Small Dole and the rest of West Sussex. Across West Sussex, we cover Small Dole. Brighton is in our area too.
We cover every part of BN5 for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Downsview, Tottington Drive and Orchard Close. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Woodmancote (2 miles north-east), Henfield (2 miles north), Blackstone (2 miles north-east), Albourne (3 miles north-east) and High Cross (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (8 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (13 miles south-west).
Around Small Dole
In Small Dole, that means homes and buildings near Tottington Wood and the streets around them. Small Dole’s nearest station is Shoreham-By-Sea station, roughly 4.8 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south) and Steyning Museum (2.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.