West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Washington
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Washington, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp patches next to the stack
Wind, rain and roofs in Washington
Parham House, about 3.9 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Washington. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like St Mary's CofE Primary School, a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Mary, leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Washington is about 6 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Washington, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Across West Sussex, we cover Washington and the places around it. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Here we cover the RH20 postcode area for roof leak investigations. We cover properties on London Road, The Street and Chanctonbury Close. We also cover the places around Washington: Rock (1 mile north), Sullington (1 mile west), Heath Common (2 miles north-west), Storrington (2 miles north-west) and Warminghurst (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Horsham (12 miles north), Worthing (6 miles south), Bognor Regis (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (15 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (13 miles east) and Littlehampton (8 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Washington
Around Washington, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Rydon Community College, Windlesham House School and The Frankland Arms Public House. Other landmarks nearby include The Storrington And District Museum (2 miles north-west). Not far away are Chanctonbury Hill.
Roof leak investigation in Washington
Water is good at hiding where it gets in. Water often travels along timbers or underlay before it finds a way down, so the stain on your ceiling is seldom right under the hole. We follow it back towards where it starts. Patching the spot above the stain often misses the real cause. Tracing the route first means any work can be aimed at the right place. We survey chimney stacks, valleys and parapet gutters and lead flashings, and the problems we are asked to look at most are staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall and water coming in around a roof light or dormer.
Many homes in small places like Washington face open ground, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Washington (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Washington
What else we do in Washington
What a roof leak investigation does not cover
It is a careful look at the leaking roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Washington
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Washington
Is Washington in the area you cover?
Yes, Washington is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Washington as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Washington is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How quickly is the report sent?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed.
Why isn’t the leak directly above the stain?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. On a flat roof it can travel under the covering before it finds a way through the ceiling. Tracing that path is the heart of a leak investigation.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it is included in our Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so anything it suggests is checked with moisture readings.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Somewhere as small as Washington, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Washington
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
Useful tips for Washington property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Let us know if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
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. Prompt repairs stop gaps turning into leaks.
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.
Slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip. One slipped slate can be enough to cause a leak.
Checking the roof from the ground
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.