West Sussex · London and the South East
Walstead Roof Leak Investigation
Roof leak investigations in Walstead, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
How a roof leak investigation works in Walstead
Not every drip is a leak. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, and the stains look much like a leak. 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 drips from nail tips in a cold loft and damp ceilings under a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
Many homes in small places like Walstead face open ground, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Walstead (RH16)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
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.
Questions from Walstead
Is Walstead in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Walstead as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Walstead is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Clear the loft hatch so we can get into the roof space. Have any photos of the leak ready, and tell us about past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Why it is worth a survey now in Walstead
A leak that returns after a repair normally means the real source wasn’t found. We look past the obvious spot and check each likely route. It gives the next repair a far better chance. For an older or listed building in a place like Walstead, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- An independent look at the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Also in Walstead
Roof leak investigations in Walstead: local notes
The wider area around Walstead has a long history of building, with Ockenden Manor about 3.2 miles west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
The streets around a church such as Church of the Good Shepherd are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. Living close to Eastern Road Nature Reserve is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Take a building like Northlands Wood Primary Academy: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Walstead is about 1 mile east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. In Walstead, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Walstead is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: RH16. Local streets include Sage Avenue, Ivy Drive and Juniper Place. Walstead sits on or near the B2111. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Lindfield (1 mile north-west), Horsted Keynes (3 miles north-east), Ardingly (3 miles north), Furner's Green (4 miles east) and Highbrook (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Crawley (9 miles north-west), Horsham (12 miles west), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-west), East Grinstead (9 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-west) and Broadfield (9 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Walstead
Typical jobs here are in homes near Oathall Community College, The Snowdrop Inn and Eastern Road Nature Reserve. The nearest railway station is Haywards Heath station, roughly 1.5 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Parish Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Princess Royal Hospital (1.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Somewhere like Walstead needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it’s 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
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
How we price roof leak investigations
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Roof area
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The address and postcode of the property
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What a roof leak investigation does not cover
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:
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Flat roof details