West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in West Wittering, West Sussex
Need a roof leak investigation in West Wittering? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
Roof leak investigation in West Wittering: what you get
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Common causes are splits and blisters, tired upstands and outlets that don’t drain. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Leaks under flat extension, garage and dormer roofs are common. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. We survey lead flashings, rooflights and dormers and the roof space, and the problems we are asked to look at most are water dripping from rafters or underlay and drips from nail tips in a cold loft.
Many homes in small places like West Wittering face open ground, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Once water gets into older walls, it takes a long time to dry, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- West Wittering (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in West Wittering
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
Water that gets in at the top can show up lower down. Unused flues with open pots can let rain straight in.
Valleys
A valley takes the rain from both sides of the roof. Worn or split linings and slipped valley tiles let it under the coverings.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Places near West Wittering
What else we do in West Wittering
Roof leak investigations in West Wittering: local notes
West Wittering is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If you own a rental within reach of Nutbourne station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul are frequently 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.
West Wittering is about 6 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. If you’re in West Wittering, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
All of PO20 is covered for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Royce Way, Elmstead Gardens and Locksash Close or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include East Wittering (2 miles south-east), Shipton Green (2 miles north-east), Somerley (2 miles east), Earnley (2 miles east) and Birdham (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (9 miles east), Chichester (6 miles north-east), Selsey (6 miles south-east), Emsworth (5 miles north), Portfield (7 miles north-east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in West Wittering
Around West Wittering, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Wittering pub. The closest station to West Wittering is Nutbourne station, about 4.6 miles north. Not far away are Pilsey Island.
Common questions in West Wittering
Is West Wittering within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in West Wittering listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Check the loft can be reached. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Is the repair included in the leak investigation?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair is not part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Don’t climb onto the roof to look
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. We say which items need prompt attention.
Check the loft after heavy rain, with care and a good torch. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older roofs in small places like West Wittering can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Let us know where we can park nearby
How to book
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
What we are asked to look at in West Wittering
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Damp patches next to the stack
If you look after a building such as West Wittering Parochial Church of England School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What the survey won’t cover
- What insurance they carry