West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Five Oaks
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Five Oaks, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Five Oaks
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: 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. If part of the roof can’t be seen or reached safely, the report says so, so the limits of the survey are clear. If you’ve noticed standing water left after rain and upstands pulling away from walls, we can find out what’s behind it, on EPDM rubber, mastic asphalt and single-ply membranes alike.
Some older homes in villages like Five Oaks are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. 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, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Five Oaks (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. For a village or hamlet like Five Oaks, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s 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.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Mastic asphalt
Older asphalt can become brittle and crack as the roof moves. The report shows where it’s cracking and how far it seems to extend.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply relies on its welded laps staying sound. Seams, corners and the details around outlets and upstands get a proper look.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Five Oaks?
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. Blocked outlets, poor falls and a sagging deck are the usual causes. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Standing water left after rain
Landlords with a home close to Billingshurst station may find that flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Before you book anyone
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What insurance they carry
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What happens after the report arrives
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer, the seller or a managing agent. It’s written in plain English, with a photo of each defect, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, especially after the leaves fall. A flat roof that drains well wears much more slowly.
Five Oaks questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Five Oaks?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you come out to Five Oaks?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Our survey does not include asbestos testing. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos, for instance in cement roof sheets. We note anything that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check it before it’s disturbed.
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.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
Towns and villages near Five Oaks
Other services in Five Oaks
What a flat roof survey looks like in Five Oaks
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
Anyone responsible for a site like The Weald School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Five Oaks is about 5 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Whether the building in Five Oaks is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RH14. Local streets include Horsham Road, Hayes Wood Road and Stane Street, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Five Oaks, we cover The Haven (1 mile north-west), Billingshurst (2 miles south-west), Slinfold (2 miles north-east), Newpound Common (3 miles west) and Coneyhurst (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (5 miles east), Worthing (15 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (15 miles south-east) and Broadfield (10 miles east).
Landmarks near Five Oaks
For rail, the closest station is Billingshurst station, about 2.2 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Christs Hospital School Museum (3.1 miles east) and Horsham Hospital (5 miles east).