Water Ingress Investigation: Find Where the Water Gets In
Water ingress means water entering the building from outside — rain, ground moisture or defects — rather than a plumbing leak. The symptoms look identical from inside. Our job is to prove which it is, and exactly where it gets in. Fully insured and qualified damp, mould and leak specialists.
The routes water takes into a building
Porous brickwork
Older bricks soak up driven rain and pass it through the wall. We map the wet zones and confirm the path.
Failed pointing
Eroded mortar joints channel water straight into the wall. Often invisible from ground level until it shows inside.
Cracked render
Hairline cracks let water in behind the render, where it tracks and shows metres from the entry point.
Roof defects
Slipped tiles, failed flashings and valleys — separated from plumbing leaks with evidence, not guesswork.
Chimney defects
Flaunching, flashings and open pots feed water into chimney breasts — a classic “mystery damp patch”.
Windows & doors
Failed seals, missing drips and poor cills leak at corners and show below openings.
Flat roofs
Ponding and failed coverings above rooms and extensions — traced before the ceiling comes down.
Balconies
Failed membranes and door thresholds above habitable rooms are a frequent, misdiagnosed source.
Basements & substructure
Ground water and failed tanking need a different investigation from a plumbing leak — we do both.
Bridged DPC
Render, ground levels or debris bridging the damp-proof course lets moisture climb past it.
High external ground levels
Paths and beds built up above DPC push moisture through the wall base.
Gutters & downpipes
Overflowing or leaking rainwater goods saturate the wall behind them — cheap to fix, expensive to ignore.
Blocked drains
Defective drains feed moisture into footings and walls: drainage surveys put it on camera.
Cavity wall issues
Debris-bridged cavities and saturated insulation carry water across to inner leaves.
How we investigate
- Inside first: moisture mapping of the affected areas — pattern, height and spread say a lot about the source.
- Outside second: the fabric above and around the wet zone — roof line, pointing, render, openings, rainwater goods, ground levels.
- Cross-checks: thermal imaging for cold, wet paths; leak detection to rule plumbing in or out; drainage investigation where drains are suspect.
- Weather correlation: does the damp track rainfall or run independently of it?
Evidence and report
You get the moisture map, photographs of the defects, thermal evidence where relevant, the identified ingress route, and repair recommendations in priority order — insurance-ready where the damage is part of a claim: findings, photographs and recommendations prepared for your insurer or loss adjuster. Works are quoted based on the job.
When leak detection or drainage investigation is also needed
If the pattern points to a pipe rather than the fabric, we move to leak detection in the same visit; if drains are implicated, a CCTV drainage survey confirms it. One team, one report — no being passed between trades.
Water ingress FAQs
Is it ingress or a leak?
That’s usually the whole question. Pattern, height, weather correlation and pipe testing answer it with evidence.
Can you fix the cause as well as find it?
Yes — our own engineers handle repairs, or use the report with any contractor. No obligation.
Will insurance cover it?
Policies differ on ingress vs escape of water — the evidence in our report is what lets the right part of your policy respond. See insurance reports.
Book a water ingress investigation
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