East Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Alciston
Flat roof surveys in Alciston from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
About our flat roof survey in Alciston
Flat roofs deal with rain in a very different way from pitched ones. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, and we look for signs that water has reached the deck. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. If you’ve noticed upstands pulling away from walls and damaged trims at the roof edge, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Alciston, a flat roof can stand in the open, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, usually show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Alciston (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Alciston
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What made you get in touch
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Alciston
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. Our report notes crazing, cracks and any likely entry points.
GRP fibreglass
Movement in the deck or a thin layer of resin can lead to cracks in GRP. Our report notes cracks and any sign that the deck is flexing.
Nearby places to Alciston
Also in Alciston
What we are asked to look at in Alciston
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
Take an older house close to The Parish Church: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What insurance they carry
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Around Alciston, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there’s access.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Flat roof surveys around Alciston
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Alciston, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. About 1.3 miles north-west lies Charleston Farmhouse, a reminder of how long the area around Alciston has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Berwick (Sussex) station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Alciston is about 4 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. Alciston gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton.
All of BN26 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Selmeston (1 mile north), Berwick (1 mile north-east), Winton (1 mile south-east), Alfriston (2 miles south-east) and Milton Street (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (4 miles south), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Crowborough (15 miles north).
Landmarks near Alciston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Rose Cottage Inn. Alciston’s nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 1.3 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Arlington Castle (1.7 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Alciston includes Firle Beacon.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Alciston
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Alciston?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around Alciston hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Water that lies on a flat roof for days is a sign that something needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. The survey looks at each and records the likely cause.
Can you survey a flat roof on an office or unit?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. We quote bigger roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.