Roof Leak — what's actually going on

Water staining a ceiling or running down an internal wall after rain.

Often urgent — water can travel for hours before you see it.

Common causes

Failed chimney flashing (most common on period stock)
Cracked or slipped tile above the stain — often metres away
Blocked or perished lead valley behind a bay roof
Worn pointing on ridge or verge mortar
Condensation in a poorly ventilated loft (misdiagnosed as a leak)

How we fix it

Trace the true entry point, not just where the water shows
Make-safe the same visit if the leak is active
Photograph the cause and the repair for your records
Check related details while up there to head off the next callout

Roof Leak by area

Locally specific notes for roof leak across the towns and neighbourhoods we cover.

Roof Leak in HamptonTW12 Roof Leak in RichmondTW9

Our guides on this

Why is my roof leaking? The common causes, in order

Most domestic roof leaks are not the tiles. In order of how often we find them: chimney or abutment flashing, a slipped or cracked tile, a blocked valley or gutter, perished flat roof felt, and finally loft condensation being mistaken for a leak.

Roof leak nobody can find: how we track it down

Leaks get missed because water travels. It enters at a flashing or tile, runs along a batten or rafter, and drops metres away. Tracing one properly means working backwards from the wet timber in the loft, not guessing from the ceiling stain.

Damp patch on the ceiling: leak or condensation?

A leak follows the rain and makes one defined stain with a tide mark. Condensation shows up in cold, still weather, spreads across a wider area with no clear edge, and is usually worst in the coldest corners of the ceiling.