Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Brighton Flat Roof Survey
Not sure what state the flat roof is in? You can book a flat roof survey in Brighton and across Brighton and Hove.
- Standing water left after rain
- Outlets that hold water back
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Brighton
Offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats often sit under large flat roofs. A survey of a roof this size picks out worn covering, standing water and outlets that need attention. We record the condition with photographs so work can be planned and budgeted. We quote commercial roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so it helps if you ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a rough idea of the roof area. We survey mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are splits, cracks and crazing and blocked or damaged outlets.
In a place like Brighton, purpose-built blocks of flats often have shared flat roofs, looked after by a managing agent, a residents’ company or the building owner. Leaks into top-floor flats are typically where trouble shows first. Finding the cause early limits the damage. Shared roofs need someone to arrange access, so let us know who manages the building.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Brighton (BN1, BN2, BN3)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Local flat roofs in Brighton
Brighton lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. There are several hotels within about a mile and a half of Brighton, and like offices and blocks, hotels frequently sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a leak through a flat roof can put a room out of use.
If you live in an older home near St Martin's Church, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start. If you own a rental within reach of London Road (Brighton) station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Brighton is in Brighton and Hove. Wherever you are in Brighton, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
We survey roofs across the BN1, BN2 and BN3 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Streets in the area include London Road, Isetta Square and Pelham Square, all of which we cover. Main roads around Brighton include the A23 and A259, which makes travel easy. If you’re just outside Brighton, we cover Hanover (1 mile south), Carlton Hill (1 mile south), West Hill (1 mile west), Hollingdean (1 mile north) and Seven Dials (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Brighton and Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Hangleton (3 miles west), Saltdean (4 miles south-east), East Saltdean (5 miles south-east) and Rottingdean (3 miles south-east). Being one of Brighton and Hove’s larger places, Brighton has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Near you in Brighton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, William Clarke Park and Park Crescent pub, among other places. There is a railway station in Brighton itself: London Road (Brighton) station. Well-known places in the area include Brighton General Hospital (0.7 miles east) and Old Police Cells Museum (1 mile south-west). For a walk, there’s Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
What we cannot see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Brighton
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
Nearby places to Brighton
Also in Brighton
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of what we found. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Turnaround is within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, 24 to 48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It typically takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. If the property is near the centre of Brighton, let us know about car parks or permit rules nearby. We’ll want to see the loft, if there is one, and any ceiling or wall showing damp. Outside, we work round the building to find the safe viewpoints.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
What we are asked to look at in Brighton
Flat roofs swing between hot and cold more than most parts of a building. That movement pulls at seams, laps and the joints between boards, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
Common reasons to book include:
- Cracked or split membrane
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
If you look after a building such as Fairlight Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
What to check before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How soon the report will arrive
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Brighton: your questions answered
Is my home in Brighton listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Brighton, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Should I worry about standing water on my flat roof?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It often means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and it wears the covering faster. We record where it sits and the likely cause.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. We’ll confirm the timing when booking.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll get the report by email. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.