West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Donnington, West Sussex
Flat roof surveys in Donnington, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Outlets that hold water back
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Pools of water lying on the roof
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the flat roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around Donnington, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave side gates unlocked
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Donnington
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Felt can blister and crack, asphalt can craze and split, EPDM seams and laps can lift, and GRP can crack where boards meet or at the trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it’s doing helps you plan what comes next. We survey upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass, and people most often book us about signs of deflection in the roof deck and edge trims that have lifted or split.
In a village or hamlet like Donnington, flat roofs are normally on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Donnington (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Donnington
People go onto flat roofs for all sorts of reasons: cleaning windows, fitting aerials or air conditioning, or clearing gutters. Each visit can damage a covering not made for regular foot traffic. Fixings added through the covering often start leaks too.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near The Parish Church of St George, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
What a flat roof survey doesn’t cover
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
Local flat roofs in Donnington
Donnington lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Goodwood House, about 4.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Donnington. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Chichester High School For Girls, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Donnington is about 2 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. We visit Donnington as part of our work across West Sussex. Donnington is one of the places in West Sussex where we work. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Flat roof surveys in PO20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You’ll find Donnington on the B2201, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover the places around Donnington: Hunston (1 mile east), North Mundham (1 mile east), Runcton (2 miles east), Chichester (2 miles north) and Portfield (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Selsey (5 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles east).
Around Donnington
Around Donnington, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Blacksmith's Arms Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Chichester station, roughly 1.6 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Cathedral Treasury (1.8 miles north) and St Richard's Hospital (2.5 miles north). The countryside around Donnington includes Nutborne Marshes.
Common questions in Donnington
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Donnington, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Do you cover smaller places like Donnington?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it is holding up.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
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. We check each of these and record what we find.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Normally, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
For landlords and managing agents
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, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Also near Donnington
Also in Donnington
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Useful tips for Donnington property owners
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Book a survey every few years
If you are buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. You might ask for work to be done before completion, or discuss the price, depending on what we found.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys typically lasts longer.