Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Kemptown, Brighton and Hove
Need a flat roof survey in Kemptown? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Common questions in Kemptown
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Kemptown?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows.
Do you cover smaller places like Kemptown?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks typically begin, recording anything that could let water through. If the source is hidden, we may suggest a leak investigation or electronic leak detection.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
What’s in the survey report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Flat roof survey in Kemptown: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It helps 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. Our report records the covering, how it’s holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. Typical surveys look at outlets choked with leaves and silt and leaks around rooflights, on single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Kemptown can be more exposed, particularly where nothing shelters them, so wind catches loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. Splits, blisters and lifting edges are what to look out for, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Kemptown (BN2)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a flat roof survey looks like in Kemptown
Kemptown is within about 1 mile of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Historic houses such as Royal Pavilion, about 1 mile west, show how far back building in the area around Kemptown goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Brighton station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Kemptown means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it pays to find faults before guests do. Shop and office owners around Churchill Square may find that outlets and upstands on commercial flat roofs are the places to check before trouble starts.
Kemptown is about 1 mile south-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Kemptown is one of many places we visit across Brighton and Hove. We cover towns and villages across Brighton and Hove, large and small.
All of BN2 is covered for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Abbey Road, Manor Road and Eastern Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Kemptown, we cover Whitehawk (1 mile north-east), Carlton Hill (1 mile north-west), Hanover (1 mile north-west), Brighton (1 mile north-west) and West Hill (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles north-west), Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Withdean (3 miles north-west), Hangleton (4 miles north-west) and Patcham (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, Kemptown has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Near you in Kemptown
We work in homes and buildings around St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Queen's Park and Saint George's Inn, among other places. Kemptown’s nearest station is Brighton station, about 1.3 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Brighton Motor Museum (under half a mile south-west) and Churchill Square (1.4 miles west). Open spaces near Kemptown include Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Most flat roofs are out of sight, so they’re easy to forget. Many owners only find out a roof is worn out when water comes through. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. Homes in smaller places like Kemptown can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book us in Kemptown
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
How the survey works
Photos 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 is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. A visit to a smaller place like Kemptown is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- 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.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
Preparing for the visit
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Also near Kemptown
Also in Kemptown
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
Different roofs, different checks
Felt and built-up roofs
A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, though quality and upkeep make a big difference. Our report sets out its condition and the areas most at risk.
Rooflights and upstands
Where a flat roof meets a wall, the upstand has to stay sealed as the building moves. We look for splits, gaps and failed flashings over the top.
Prices for flat roof surveys in Kemptown
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Height and safe access
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
What we need to know
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- What’s prompted the survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.