Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Tonwell Roof Leak Investigation
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? We carry out roof leak investigations in Tonwell and across Hertfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Damp on a chimney breast
How a roof leak investigation works in Tonwell
A leak that comes and goes can be the hardest to pin down. Wind-driven rain, an overflowing gutter or snow melt may be what triggers it. Telling us when it happens helps a lot and so do photos. We look for the clues it leaves behind, such as tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture detection shows which materials are still damp. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, the roof space and chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are wet patches on loft insulation and damp ceilings under a flat roof.
Many homes in small places like Tonwell face open ground, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
What you get is a clear record of the leaking roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Tonwell (SG12)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around Tonwell can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
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.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Tonwell and across Hertfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Roof leak investigations in Tonwell: local notes
Aston Bury, about 4.6 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Tonwell. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed.
If you own a rental within reach of Ware station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Tonwell St Mary's Church of England Primary School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Tonwell is about 2 miles north-west of Ware, in Hertfordshire. We carry out roof leak investigations for householders, landlords and businesses in Tonwell and nearby. Tonwell is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work for roof leak investigations. We also survey roofs in London.
Surveys in SG12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Ware Road, Temple Lane and Bourne Honour or a nearby road, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Chapmore End (1 mile south), Sacombe (1 mile north), Thundridge (2 miles east), Wadesmill (2 miles east) and Sacombe Green (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (7 miles north-west), St Albans (13 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (10 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles south-west), Harpenden (12 miles west) and Hitchin (12 miles north-west).
Near you in Tonwell
Typical jobs here are in homes near Robin Hood & Little John pub and Chauncy School, among other places. The closest station to Tonwell is Ware station, about 2.5 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Hertford County Hospital (3 miles south) and Barrowfield (2.7 miles south). For a walk, there is King's Meads.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Note the weather when the leak shows
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Air movement keeps condensation down, and condensation is a common false alarm. Check insulation doesn’t block airflow at the eaves.
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.
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Upstands seal the edge of a flat roof where it meets a wall. If it’s too low, cracked or poorly dressed, water gets behind it.
Places near Tonwell
More services for Tonwell
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Tonwell
Is Tonwell in the area you cover?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Tonwell is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the property.
Do you cover smaller places like Tonwell?
Yes. Tonwell is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.