Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Temple Bar, Greater London
Independent roof leak investigations in Temple Bar. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in Temple Bar
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is part of the Premium Survey, and moisture detection comes with Standard. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. We survey chimney stacks, flat roof details and the roof space, and the problems we are asked to look at most are water that shows only in certain storms and water dripping from rafters or underlay.
London’s Victorian and Edwardian roofs have often been repaired many times. Telling wear from a one-off event matters, because insurers normally exclude wear and tear. That’s as true in Temple Bar as anywhere in London. A written record with photographs helps you explain what was found to whoever deals with it next.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Temple Bar (WC2B, WC2E, EC1N)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in Temple Bar
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. About 0.2 miles north-east lies Dr Johnson's House, a reminder of how long the area around Temple Bar has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
The streets around a church such as Temple Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. If you own a rental within reach of City Thameslink station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away. Homes near green spaces like Lincoln's Inn Fields can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Temple Bar is about 1 mile south of St Pancras, in Greater London. Anywhere in Temple Bar, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
All of WC2B, WC2E and EC1N is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Shoe Lane, Drury Lane and New Square, all of which we cover. Being close to the A4 and A40, Temple Bar is simple for us to get to for roof leak investigations. We also cover Temple (1 mile south), Clare Market (1 mile west), Aldwych (1 mile west), Blackfriars (1 mile east) and Covent Garden (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (13 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (3 miles south).
Local landmarks in Temple Bar
Around Temple Bar, our work takes us to homes and buildings near British Library of Political and Economic Science, Mercers' School and London Nautical School, among other places. Nearby too are Lincoln's Inn Fields (under half a mile north-west) and Queen's Head Tavern (less than half a mile north-east). There is a railway station in Temple Bar itself: City Thameslink station. Nearby you will also find Montfichet's Tower (0.5 miles east) and Twinings Museum (less than half a mile south-west). For a walk, there’s Ludgate Hill and Barnsbury Wood.
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
Keep the report after the work is done. If the leak returns, it is a useful record of what was found, which makes the next step quicker.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
FAQs for Temple Bar
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Temple Bar?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Temple Bar?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Temple Bar is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
Can thermal imaging help find my roof leak?
Where conditions suit, it can. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. Its findings are confirmed with a moisture check.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you always find the source?
Not always, and we will be honest about that. Some leaks hide well, particularly those that need wind-driven rain. If we cannot be sure, the report ranks the possible sources.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Temple Bar we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near 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 each safe vantage point.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Related advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leak rarely stays small. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Tracing it now means less to put right later. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys
Leaves and moss build up in valleys and hold water back. During a downpour, water can back up under the coverings.
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.
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.