Damp and leak repairs for coastal homes

Find the water source before choosing a finish

A damp mark describes a symptom, not a diagnosis. Water may enter through a roof or terrace, escape from pipework or a shower, rise through an older wall, or form as condensation in a closed room. Our existing service is to investigate the cause before quoting the repair. Painting a mark without understanding it leaves the underlying question unanswered.

• Inspect the visible problem and the possible source.
• Document what is found with photographs.
• Define the repair before choosing the decorative finish.
• Photograph the repair and the result.

What the repair may involve

Depending on the findings, the work can involve resealing a roof or terrace, repairing pipework or a shower, improving ventilation, or treating affected walls. These are possible scopes, not a diagnosis for every damp patch. Tell us whether the problem follows rain, appears when a bathroom is used, or is noticeable after a long absence. Keep earlier photographs if the appearance has changed.

A surface that looks dry at a single visit does not necessarily explain when water entered. Equally, a smell in a closed room does not establish that the roof is leaking. The useful distinction is between what has been observed and what needs further investigation. The quote should describe the work proposed on the evidence available.

Private and shared parts of a building

A leak from above can involve a neighbour’s home, a shared pipe or a common roof. We can find and document the problem, but the affected parties must be involved where the repair needs their access or approval. Do not assume that owning the damaged room gives control over every part from which water might originate.

The community rules below matter especially where an external surface, shared installation or another owner’s property is involved. Keep correspondence about access alongside the repair record so the agreed scope can be understood by everyone concerned.

How it works while you are abroad

Send photographs of the affected room and describe when the mark was first seen. Explain who holds the keys and whether any neighbouring or shared area may need inspection. We investigate, report and price the repair before work proceeds with your agreement. Photographs then show the work stages that are visible, including the completed result.

If the problem was found during maintenance checks, compare the dated records rather than relying only on memory. For a house being closed after a stay, end-of-season checks record its condition and the agreed ventilation arrangements. Where a bathroom is to be replaced anyway, consider the leak findings alongside the bathroom renovation scope so that the cause is addressed before new finishes are installed.

Permission and community checks

Where the agreed work involves building alterations, the route depends on its scope. TRLOTUP articles 232, 233 and 241 distinguish licence and responsible-declaration procedures and their conditions. A service name is not a permission category. In a community of owners, LPH article 7 limits alterations affecting the building or other owners and requires prior notice to the community representative for works within the provision. Check shared elements before authorising the work.

How we price the work

Start with a free estimate, then a fixed-price quote after a site visit. The scope, access and findings inform the quote. Review what is included and what needs a separate decision before accepting it. There are no standard rates on this page: the price follows the property and the agreed work, rather than a figure detached from the inspection.