If the drip only appears in a storm, the leak is usually a marginal fault: a gap that stays dry in ordinary rain but cannot cope when water arrives in volume.
Many Ashley Down homes are tightly packed terraces and semis, with bays, rear additions and shared gutters, each adding a place water can get in. A leak that only shows in a downpour tells you something useful. The roof is nearly watertight, and one weakness is being overwhelmed. Finding it takes patience and a look from inside as well as out.
Volume, not just wetness
Light rain runs off the roof in a thin film and finds nowhere to go. A downpour sends far more water down each slope, and every junction has to carry it. A gutter that cannot clear the flow can back up under the lowest tiles. A flashing with a small gap, which survives drizzle, lets a surge through. That is why the leak seems to appear from nowhere.
Gutters and valleys under pressure
Terraced roofs often drain into shared valleys and gutters that carry the water from several slopes at once. If these are blocked with moss, leaves or silt, or a joint has opened, they overflow into the roof edge and wall. Lead valleys behind parapets or between bay roofs can also split or hold debris. A heavy storm exposes all of it quickly.
- Overflowing or dripping gutters during storms
- Water marks on walls below the roof edge
- Stains on upper ceilings near party walls
- Damp patches around bay roofs
Around bays, chimneys and extensions
Where a bay roof meets the main slope, or a rear extension meets the old wall, the lead flashing has to be dressed neatly into the brickwork. Mortar weathers, lead lifts, and a hairline gap forms. Chimney stacks on party walls are similar: the flashing and the stack's own pointing both matter. In a downpour, water finds those gaps before anything else does.
Following the water in the loft
Water seldom drips straight down from its entry point. It runs along timbers and felt, then falls where it can. We check the loft first for stained timbers, wet insulation and daylight, then map it to the outside. That is how we separate a failed flashing from a slipped tile or a blocked outlet, rather than patching the spot above the stain and hoping. Tracing takes a little longer than guessing, but it saves a return visit.
What happens next
Once the source is found, the repair is usually straightforward: refix or replace tiles, renew a flashing, clear and repair a valley or gutter. If the covering has failed widely, we say so honestly. Please do not go up to inspect it yourself, and call us for a proper look. Tell us which storms trigger the leak, as wind direction helps us trace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could a blocked gutter cause a roof leak?
Yes. When a gutter overflows or backs up, water can get under the lowest tiles or soak the eaves and walls. Clearing and repairing it is often part of the fix, though the roof itself needs checking too.
Why does the leak stop when the rain stops?
Water only enters while there is enough pressure and volume to push it through the gap. Once the rain eases, the roof drains and the drip slows. The fault is still there, so it is worth tracing.
Can I ignore a leak that only happens now and then?
It is tempting, but timbers and insulation can stay damp unseen. An occasional leak usually gets worse, and repairs are simpler to carry out before rot sets in, so we recommend an early look, before the next storm tests it again.
Talk to our team about roof repairs in Ashley Down
Every roof is different — the fastest way to get an accurate answer is a quick chat with our team.