West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Houghton, West Sussex
Flat roof surveys around Houghton, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Ponding water that does not drain away
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Houghton
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: on the roof where it’s safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. We do not walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. Where any area cannot be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so the limits of the survey are clear. We survey GRP fibreglass, felt flat roofs and mastic asphalt, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are outlets choked with leaves and silt and blistering in felt or asphalt.
Some older homes in villages like Houghton 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. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Houghton (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a hamlet or village like Houghton, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We view the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof where it is safe to do so.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Advice
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Houghton
Do you cover Houghton?
Yes, Houghton is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Houghton as anywhere else.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Houghton?
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.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. It’s a survey of the flat roof. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it is not a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
Felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes are all part of the work. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
To price your survey, we check:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The size of the roof
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The address and postcode of the property
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
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 send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Houghton
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the flat roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Houghton
The wider area around Houghton has a long history of building, with Bignor Roman Villa about 2.8 miles north-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Nicholas, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. Anyone responsible for a site like Dorset House School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For landlords with property near Amberley station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Houghton is about 6 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Houghton and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Across West Sussex, we cover Houghton. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Every address in BN18 is covered for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Arundel (3 miles south), Warningcamp (3 miles south-east), Crossbush (3 miles south), Tortington (4 miles south) and Poling (4 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (9 miles south-west), Chichester (11 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
Landmarks near Houghton
We work in homes and buildings around Arundel Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Amberley station, about 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Arundel and District Hospital (2.7 miles south) and Amberley Castle (1.2 miles north-east). Not far away are Amberley Wild Brooks and Bignor Hill.
Places near Houghton
More services for Houghton
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Note where water lies after a downpour
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It’s useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Waiting for a stain inside means the water has already got through the layers. A survey can find worn areas and failing details before that point, so you can plan the work rather than react to it. For an older or listed building in a place like Houghton, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 98% customer satisfaction