Southampton · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in St Mary's, Southampton
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in St Mary's, with photographs and a written report.
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
Roof leak investigation in St Mary's
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Wind-driven rain, an overflowing gutter or snow melt may be what triggers it. Telling us when it happens helps a lot, along with any photos you’ve taken. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. Common reasons to book are wet patches on loft insulation and water that shows only in certain storms, on valleys and parapet gutters, rooflights and dormers and slate and tile slopes.
Houses in smaller places like St Mary's can stand more in the open, so wind and driving rain find any weakness in ridges, verges and flashings. If a leak shows only when the wind is in a certain direction, that is a useful clue. It helps to know when and where the water appears. Gutters and downpipes on the exposed side are worth a look as well.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the leaking roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- St Mary's (SO14, SO15, SO18)
- Region
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in St Mary's
When a slate slips or a tile cracks, the underlay takes the water. 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.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
Anyone responsible for a site like Hope Community School Southampton will know that water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What they will not be able to tell you
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Roof by roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Flat roof water can travel under the covering before it shows. Moisture readings and thermal imaging can help narrow it down where conditions suit.
Slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip. Even a single gap can let water in.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What to tell us when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Nearby places to St Mary's
More services for St Mary's
Wind, rain and roofs in St Mary's
The coast is about 1 mile or less from St Mary's, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. Historic houses like Southampton Tudor House and Garden, about 0.6 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around St Mary's goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Southampton Central station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Mary's Church, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
St Mary's is about 1 mile south of Southampton, in Southampton. We survey roofs in St Mary's and the rest of Southampton. Our Southampton coverage includes St Mary's and the places around it.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: SO14, SO15 and SO18. You’ll find streets such as New Road, Ogle Road and Marsh Lane, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Northam (1 mile north-east), Inner Avenue (1 mile north), Peartree Green (1 mile east), Southampton (1 mile north) and Bitterne Manor (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chartwell Green (3 miles north-east), Harefield (3 miles east), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west) and Eling (4 miles west).
Local landmarks in St Mary's
In St Mary's, that means homes and buildings near The Joiners pub, Woolston School and Houndwell Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Southampton Central station, roughly 0.8 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Netley Castle (2.5 miles south-east) and Bargate Guildhall Museum (less than half a mile south-west). The countryside around St Mary's includes Netley Common.
Why it is worth a survey now in St Mary's
A leak near lights or wiring needs attention quickly. Keep away from any fitting that water is reaching. Then the source needs tracing. Around St Mary's, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Package prices that include VAT
- An independent view of the roof
- Over 20 years’ experience
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. A visit to a smaller place like St Mary's is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
How to prepare
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
FAQs for St Mary's
How do I find out if my home in St Mary's is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to St Mary's?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Does the investigation include the repair?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair itself is a separate job. You get a report with photos showing where the water is getting in and what needs attention.