West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Cocking, West Sussex
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Cocking, with photographs and a written report.
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Pools of water lying on the roof
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the flat roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Around Cocking, 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.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Leave side gates unlocked
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Flat roof survey in Cocking: what you get
A flat roof does not shed water the way a pitched roof does. 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 note any sign that the deck below has got wet. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We survey upstands and outlets, mastic asphalt and EPDM rubber, and the problems we are asked to look at most are signs of deflection in the roof deck and water getting in at rooflights.
Older buildings in small places like Cocking 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.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Cocking (GU29)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
FAQs for Cocking
How do I find out if my home in Cocking is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Cocking?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
What happens next?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
What’s in the survey report?
A report with photos, covering the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, by urgency where it matters. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Should I worry about standing water on my flat roof?
Standing water a day or two after rain usually needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. The survey looks at each and records the likely cause.
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
Why get it checked now?
Standing water on a flat roof rarely sorts itself out. It typically points to an outlet, the falls or a sagging deck, and every wet spell adds to the wear. Knowing the cause early gives you more choice over what to do. Older and listed buildings around Cocking may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
What you get with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Cocking
What else we do in Cocking
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Cocking
Water that does not drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It normally comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Cracked or split membrane
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
For an older house near a landmark like St Catherine of Siena Church, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- What exactly goes into their report
- What happens after the report arrives
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Flat roof surveys around Cocking
The wider area around Cocking has a long history of building, with Cowdray House about 2.6 miles north. 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. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Next to the main roofs there’s normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
Cocking is about 8 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. In Cocking, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Every address in GU29 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Bell Lane, The Croft and Cherry Close. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Bepton (1 mile north-west), Heyshott Green (1 mile north-east), Cocking Causeway (1 mile north), Heyshott (1 mile east) and Bepton Common (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (12 miles south), Chichester (8 miles south), Selsey (15 miles south), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Emsworth (11 miles south-west) and Rustington (14 miles south-east).
Around Cocking
Nearby you will also find Midhurst Community Hospital (3 miles north) and Midhurst Museum (2.5 miles north). Open spaces near Cocking include Levin Down and Iping and Stedham Commons.