West Sussex · London and the South East
Somerley Roof Leak Investigation
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Somerley, and put it all in a written report with photographs.
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
How a roof leak investigation works in Somerley
Roof leaks rarely show up where you’d expect. Water frequently travels along timbers or underlay before it finds a way down, so the stain on your ceiling is seldom right under the hole. We follow it back towards where it starts, one likely route at a time. A repair aimed only at the stain can miss the cause entirely. Tracing the route first means any work can be aimed at the right place. Common reasons to book are water dripping from rafters or underlay and staining around the chimney inside, across valleys and parapet gutters, chimney stacks and flat roof details.
In a village or hamlet like Somerley, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, which matters if you are thinking of an insurance claim. We look at what can be seen safely and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Somerley (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Somerley
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Nearby places to Somerley
Other services in Somerley
Roof leak investigations in Somerley: local notes
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Somerley, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more 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. 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.
Take an older house close to St James' Church: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. If you look after a building like Birdham CE Primary School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Somerley is about 4 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. We cover Somerley and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across West Sussex, we cover Somerley and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
All of PO20 is within our area for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on Bell Lane and Hundredsteddle Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Almodington (1 mile south-east), Birdham (1 mile north-east), Shipton Green (1 mile north-west), Earnley (1 mile south) and East Wittering (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (4 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Around Somerley
We work in homes and buildings around The Birdham Public House and the streets around them. Somerley’s nearest station is Fishbourne station, about 4 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Castle (4.9 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (5.2 miles north-east). Not far away are Pilsey Island.
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
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. Most surveys take about one to two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere as small as Somerley, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Read more
What we cannot see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- Carrying out the fix
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
Roof by roof
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Water then gets in along the top of the roof.
Chimney stacks
Chimneys let water in through pointing, flaunching, flashings and open pots. We check each one as far as we can safely see, and look for damp on the breast inside.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Somerley
Is Somerley within the area you cover?
Yes. Somerley is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Somerley?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair is not part of it. You get a report with photos showing where the water is getting in and what needs attention.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.
What we’re asked to look at in Somerley
Valleys carry a lot of water. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can push water under the slates or tiles. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
Look out for signs like these:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Wet patches on loft insulation
For landlords with property near Fishbourne station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
What to check before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report