West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Ford, West Sussex
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Ford. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Raised blisters across the surface
How a flat roof survey works in Ford
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. If you’re worried about splits, cracks and crazing and raised blisters across the surface, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Ford, flat roofs are typically on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them when you book.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Ford (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- An exact number of years the roof has left
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Ford
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
More services for Ford
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in.
Flat roof surveys in Ford: local notes
Ford is within about 2 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. Ecclesden Manor, about 4.8 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ford. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you own a rental within reach of Ford station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. The streets around a church like The Parish Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Surveys in Ford work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Sussex, we cover Ford. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: BN18. Whether your property is on Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Ford, we cover Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
Near you in Ford
Around Ford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Ford itself: Ford station. Well-known places in the area include Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). Open spaces near Ford include WWT Arundel.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Ford: your questions answered
Is Ford within the area you cover?
Yes. Ford is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Ford?
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.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
We don’t test for asbestos. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, like old cement sheeting, the report flags them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How long is the visit?
It normally takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Ford
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, although how well it was laid and looked after matters a great deal. A survey shows how yours is holding up, whatever its age.
Problems we come across often include:
- Cracked or split membrane
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Littlehampton Academy, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Ford, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk 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
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
Related advice
Useful tips for Ford property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Book a survey every few years
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. With each roofer working from the same list, comparing quotes is simpler. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.