East Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Firle, East Sussex
We take a careful look at the flat roof at your property in Firle, with photographs and a written report.
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
About our flat roof survey in Firle
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It is useful to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with photographs of each. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. If you’ve noticed loose or cracked edge trims and gaps at upstands and abutments, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Firle take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Firle (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photos.
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are typically where trouble starts. Every upstand and edge is checked, with photos of any that have lifted or cracked.
What a flat roof survey does not cover
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Firle
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
Other services in Firle
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.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Firle. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Roof area
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Anything about access we should know
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What happens on the day
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. For a village or hamlet like Firle, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Flat roofs in Firle
Firle is within about 5 miles of the coast, 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. The wider area around Firle has a long history of building, with Firle Place about 0.4 miles south-east. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For landlords with property near Glynde station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. Anyone responsible for a site like Firle Church of England Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Peter: the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems typically start.
Firle is about 4 miles south-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. In Firle, as across East Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: BN8. Local streets include The Street, Bostal Road and Firle Bostal. We also cover the places around Firle: Glynde (1 mile north-west), Glyndebourne (2 miles north-west), Ashton Green (3 miles north), South Heighton (3 miles south) and Ringmer (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (10 miles south-east), Seaford (5 miles south), Lewes (4 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north) and Uckfield (8 miles north).
Landmarks near Firle
Typical jobs here are in homes near Lewes and Laughton Levels, The Ram Inn and Science and Technology Policy Research, among other places. Firle’s nearest station is Glynde station, about 1 mile north-west of the centre. A little further out are Lewes Castle (3.8 miles north-west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.2 miles north). The countryside around Firle includes Southerham Farm and Firle Beacon.
FAQs for Firle
Is Firle within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Firle, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
What does a roof survey cost?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.