Hertfordshire · London and the South East
The Willows Roof Leak Investigation
We carry out roof leak investigations in The Willows and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on any day of the week.
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Roof leak investigation in The Willows
Some ‘leaks’ are not leaks at all. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, 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. We look at the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. If you’ve noticed water through the ceiling under a flat roof and water coming in around a roof light or dormer, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Being in a small place like The Willows makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. It’s useful to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, plus any earlier repairs. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- The Willows (SG9)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Let us know if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Stay off ladders and the roof
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
Look at the roof from the ground after strong winds. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
Also near The Willows
Other services in The Willows
The Willows roofs and the weather
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Furneux Pelham Church of England School, a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
The Willows is about 5 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. The Willows gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Across Hertfordshire, we cover The Willows and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the SG9 postcode area for roof leak investigations. Local streets include Ginns Road and The Wash, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside The Willows, we cover Stocking Pelham (1 mile north-east), Berden (2 miles north-east), Uppend (2 miles south-east), Starling's Green (2 miles north-east) and Mount Pleasant (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles south-east), Hoddesdon (13 miles south), Hertford (12 miles south-west), Letchworth (14 miles west) and Ware (10 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in The Willows
Around The Willows, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Cock pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Stansted Mountfitchet station, roughly 4.7 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Brent Pelham (2.2 miles north-west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (5.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in The Willows?
Chimneys can let water in by several routes. Water can enter through crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching, worn flashings or uncapped pots. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Damp patches next to the stack
For landlords with property near Stansted Mountfitchet station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaks tend to get worse, not better. Wind lifts loose slates further and gaps widen. An investigation now gives you time to plan the work. Around The Willows, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
FAQs for The Willows
Do you cover The Willows?
Yes, The Willows is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Is The Willows within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
Condensation can look very like a leak. Widespread damp on the underside of the roof in cold weather, with blocked vents, suggests condensation. We look at the pattern, take moisture readings and tell you which is more likely.
Does the investigation include the repair?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair isn’t part of it. You get a report with photos showing where the water is getting in and what needs attention, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
How long does a roof leak investigation take?
Allow between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a small place like The Willows, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the roof space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
Landlord and commercial surveys in The Willows
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.