West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Keymer
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Keymer. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Water getting in at rooflights
Flat roof survey in Keymer: what you get
A flat roof doesn’t shed water the way a pitched roof does. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. We survey mastic asphalt, single-ply membranes and felt flat roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are ponding water that doesn’t drain away and outlets choked with leaves and silt.
In smaller places like Keymer, flat roofs are mostly on extensions, garages, porches and dormers. They’re small, but a leak over a kitchen extension can do a lot of harm. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Keymer (BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
More services for Keymer
Roof by roof
GRP fibreglass
A well-laid GRP roof often lasts up to about 30 years. Cracking where boards meet or where the deck moves is a common early sign of trouble.
EPDM rubber
Lifting at the edges and loose areas of membrane are common EPDM problems. Any we find are noted and photographed.
Flat roofs in Keymer
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are a good many flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Take an older house close to St Cosmas and St Damian Church: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof. If you look after a building such as The Windmills Junior School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
Keymer is about 2 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. In Keymer, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across West Sussex, we cover Keymer and the places around it. You can also see our page for Brighton.
We cover every part of the BN6 postcode area for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Flowers Close, The Quadrant and Kymer Gardens. If you are just outside Keymer, we cover Hassocks (1 mile west), Ditchling (1 mile east), Clayton (1 mile south-west), Hurst Wickham (1 mile north-west) and Westmeston (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (13 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles south-west).
What’s near Keymer
We work in homes and buildings around The Greyhound Public House and Downlands Community School. The nearest railway station is Hassocks station, about 0.5 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (3.2 miles north-west) and Clayton Castle (1.2 miles south-west). The countryside around Keymer includes Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
The survey, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Homes around Keymer frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- 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.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
What you can safely check yourself
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
FAQs for Keymer
Is my home in Keymer listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Keymer in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Keymer as anywhere else.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Standing water a day or two after rain normally needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. We check each of these and record what we find.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically 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 if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
What we are asked to look at in Keymer
A buyer’s general survey often recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Building owners and managing agents book to plan maintenance, or before a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photographs.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Cracked or split membrane
- A sagging deck under the covering
If you let a flat or house near Hassocks station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Their insurance cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What the survey will not cover