West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Clayton
We carry out flat roof surveys in Clayton and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
What a flat roof survey looks like in Clayton
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. Historic houses such as Preston Manor & Gardens, about 4.7 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Clayton goes. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St John the Baptist's Church, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. For landlords with property near Hassocks station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Clayton is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Clayton is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. Clayton is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for flat roof surveys.
Here we cover the BN6 postcode area for flat roof surveys. You will find streets like Spring Lane, Underhill Lane and Brighton Road. We also cover the places around Clayton: Keymer (1 mile north-east), Hassocks (1 mile north), Ditchling (2 miles north-east), Westmeston (2 miles east) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles north), Burgess Hill (3 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (7 miles south-west).
Near you in Clayton
In Clayton, that means homes and buildings near Downlands Community School and The Greyhound Public House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Hassocks station, about 1 mile north. Well-known places in the area include Clayton Castle (within half a mile south-west) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (0.9 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Wolstonbury Hill and Ladies Mile.
Flat roof survey in Clayton: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It helps to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP frequently go on for longer. Our report records the covering, how it is holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. We survey single-ply membranes, GRP fibreglass and mastic asphalt, and common reasons people get in touch are dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and raised blisters across the surface.
Older buildings in small places like Clayton may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Clayton (BN6)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Clayton
Other services in Clayton
What we’re asked to look at in Clayton
A buyer’s general survey often recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photos.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
If you look after a building such as The Windmills Junior School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How soon the report will arrive
Honest limits
It’s a careful look at the flat roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Clayton
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Clayton questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Clayton?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover Clayton?
Yes, Clayton is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. It frequently sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to.
What happens on the day
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Around Clayton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Before the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in Clayton
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.