East Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Etchingwood, East Sussex
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Etchingwood. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
About our flat roof survey in Etchingwood
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can be seen safely: from the roof itself where that’s safe, from windows and nearby vantage points, and from inside where there is access. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so the limits of the survey are clear. We’re frequently asked to look into failed seals around rooflight kerbs and blocked or damaged outlets, across single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and mastic asphalt.
In a small place like Etchingwood, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Location
- Etchingwood (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Etchingwood
Is my home in Etchingwood 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. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover smaller places like Etchingwood?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply roofs are all covered. If you do not know what your roof is, we’ll identify it on the day.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
There is no honest way to give an exact number of years. Typical ranges are around 15 to 20 years for felt, 30 to 50 for EPDM and up to about 30 for GRP, but your report describes the actual condition.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Etchingwood
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Older roofs in small places like Etchingwood can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Flat roofs in Etchingwood
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
For landlords with property near Buxted station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. Take a building like Uckfield College: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Etchingwood is about 2 miles north-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Wherever you are in Etchingwood, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property. Across East Sussex, we cover Etchingwood. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of TN22 is covered for flat roof surveys. We also cover Potter's Green (1 mile north-west), Buxted (1 mile north-west), Framfield (1 mile south-west), Blackboys (1 mile south-east) and Hadlow Down (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (10 miles south-west), Hailsham (9 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north) and Newhaven (14 miles south).
What’s near Etchingwood
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Buxted Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Etchingwood is Buxted station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Uckfield Community Hospital (2.2 miles south-west) and Tickerage Castle (0.9 miles south). Not far away are Selwyns Wood.
Common roof problems in Etchingwood
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. It typically comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Questions to ask before you book
- When you’ll get the report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the survey won’t cover
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Landlords, agents and block managers in Etchingwood
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
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 Etchingwood
Also in Etchingwood
Roof by roof
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights, lanterns and upstands are where many flat roof leaks begin. We look at how the covering is finished around each rooflight and upstand.
EPDM rubber
EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane, often laid in a single sheet on smaller roofs. The survey looks at laps, edge trims, corners and signs of puncture.