Essex · London and the South East
Writtle Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof across Writtle, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
Roof leak investigation in Writtle
Leaks tend to begin where one part of a roof meets another. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. Each of these is checked in turn and follow the evidence. Chimneys, dormers and roof lights each add joints of their own. Each one is looked at from wherever it’s safe to see it. We survey flat roof details, lead flashings and rooflights and dormers, and people most often book us about water dripping from rafters or underlay and drips from nail tips in a cold loft.
In a smaller place like Writtle, some roofs face open ground, where driving rain gets into any gap at a ridge, verge or flashing. If a leak shows only when the wind is in a certain direction, that’s a useful clue. Tell us when it happens when you contact us. Gutters and downpipes on the exposed side are worth a look as well.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Writtle (CM1)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Wet insulation does not insulate well. A slow leak can soak it for months before a stain appears. The sooner the cause is found, the less needs replacing. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Writtle, so it is useful to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. A survey gives you that notice.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Clear package prices, including VAT
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
DIY checks: what’s safe
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.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Writtle?
Every flat roof covering has a working life. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and as it ages it splits, blisters and opens at the laps. Leaks often start at the edges, upstands and outlets.
Look out for signs like these:
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
Homes near green spaces such as Central Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
Common questions in Writtle
Do you cover smaller places like Writtle?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is Writtle in the area you cover?
Yes, Writtle is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair isn’t part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Is it a leak or condensation?
The two can look alike. 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.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. A visit to a smaller place like Writtle is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
What a roof leak investigation does not cover
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Putting the leak right
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Lead flashings
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
Towns and villages near Writtle
Other services in Writtle
Prices for roof leak investigations in Writtle
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Writtle
The wider area around Writtle has a long history of building, with Hylands about 1.4 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
Landlords with a home close to Chelmsford station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it. Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: leaks on older roofs often start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks.
Writtle is about 3 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Anywhere in Writtle, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Writtle is one of the places in Essex where we work.
We survey roofs across the CM1 postcode area for roof leak investigations. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Millfields, Well Field and Little Meadow or anywhere close by, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Widford (2 miles south-east), Moulsham (2 miles east), Chignall St James (2 miles north), Patching (2 miles north-east) and Chelmsford (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Basildon (11 miles south), Braintree (12 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (9 miles south-west), Maldon (11 miles east) and Billericay (7 miles south).
Near you in Writtle
We work in homes and buildings around Rose And Crown Public House, Hylands School and Central Park. The nearest railway station is Chelmsford station, roughly 2.1 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Peter Edwards Museum And Library (2 miles east) and Bond Street Chelmsford (2.4 miles east). Open spaces near Writtle include Newland Grove.